Padma Bridge, connecting the capital Dhaka with 21 south-western districts of the country, is going to be opened for traffic on Sunday morning.

According to experts, the opening of Padma Bridge is likely to bring massive changes to the lives and livelihoods of some six crore people of the country’s southern region.

They laid strong emphasis on proper operation and maintenance of the bridge.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has taken all-out preparations to allow movement of traffic over the Padma Bridge from 6:00am on Sunday, said project director Md Shafiqul Islam.

After opening of Padma Bridge on Saturday morning, Shafiqul Islam told journalists that no vehicles would ply over the bridge today (Saturday). “It would be opened to traffic from 6:00am on Sunday.”

Through the 6.15km long Padma Bridge, direct connection between the capital Dhaka and south south-western regions have been established. The motor vehicles including buses plying between the capital Dhaka and 21 south-western districts have so far used ferries to cross the river Padma from Mawa. Almost all of those will now cross the river using the Padma Bridge.

Meanwhile, the BBA officials concerned said there will be a substantial pressure of motor vehicles on Sunday owing to significant interest about the Padma Bridge among people.

Contacted, Padma Bridge project director Shafiqul Islam said, “We are anticipating that there will be substantial pressure of vehicles on the first day of movement of vehicles. We have trained our toll plaza employees accordingly. We hope that they will be able to avert the rush of vehicles. Besides, all preparations have been taken for the maintenance and security of the bridge.”

Earlier on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina crossed the Padma Bridge paying toll by herself soon after opening it.

The head of the government paid Tk 16,400 as toll for all the cars in her motorcade including Tk 750 for her own car.

The rates of toll for Padma Bridge have already been fixed. According to a gazette notification, small-size bus will have to pay Tk 1,400, medium-size bus 2,000 and big bus Tk 2,400, while small truck will have to pay Tk 1,600, medium size bus Tk 2,100-Tk 2,800 and large truck Tk 5,500. Pick-up toll has been fixed Tk 1,200.

On the other hand, motorcycle will have to pay Tk 100, a private car Tk 750, a microbus Tk 1,300 as toll to cross the bridge.

Most of the buses which intend to use Padma Bridge will ply from Saidabada Inter-district Bus Terminal.

Greater South Bengal Coach and Bus Owners Association general secretary Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the buses and minibuses which previously used ferries to cross the river Padma from Mawa would also leave Saidabad on Sunday morning.

He said, “Many of our buses plying from Saidabad were inoperative for a long time. Now, all those buses will be operated. Besides, buses of several companies like Hanif Paribahan, Green Line Paribahan will operate their buses over the Padma Bridge.”

Green Line Paribahan’s general manager Abdus Sattar told journalists that their buses would go to Satkhira, Benapole, Khulna, Jashore, Barishal and Kuakata crossing the Padma Bridge.

“Almost all of our buses are air-conditioned. We got route permits to ply our buses on the routes from Janjira after crossing the Padma Bridge. We will operate our buses on these routes from Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will allow to resume plying of water vessels on the Padma river from 6:00pm Saturday.