People from 21 districts in the southern region have already started travelling home

Staff Reporter:

Despite the rush of Eid holidaymakers heading to southern districts ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, traffic movement at the Mawa end of the Padma Bridge has remained smooth, with no major congestion reported so far.

People from 21 districts in the southern region have already started travelling home, but authorities said vehicle movement on the Dhaka–Mawa Expressway and the bridge remained normal on Sunday.

Although Eid-ul-Azha is only a few days away, no significant traffic pressure has yet been observed at the Mawa end. However, officials expect vehicle flow to increase from Monday.

According to Padma Bridge site engineer Abu Saad, a total of 25,999 vehicles crossed the bridge in the 24-hour period between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday.

During that time, toll collection from both ends of the bridge totalled Tk3.39 crore.

Of the total vehicles, 13,279 crossed through the Mawa end. Authorities collected Tk1.65 crore in cash tolls, Tk40,600 in credit tolls and Tk218,150 through ETCS tags from that end.

Meanwhile, 12,720 vehicles crossed through the Jajira end, generating Tk1.68 crore in cash tolls, Tk34,950 in credit tolls and Tk227,500 through ETCS tags.

Officer-in-Charge Mamunur Rashid of Hasara Highway Police Station said six police teams were working to ensure safe travel for passengers using the Dhaka–Mawa Expressway and Padma Bridge route.

He said the teams include checkpoints and two mobile patrol units operating round the clock.

Law enforcement agencies have remained active on the ground to ensure safe, smooth and comfortable Eid travel, officials said, adding that all necessary measures have been taken to manage traffic and passenger safety.