The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has said that ETC was launched on the Padma Bridge as part of implementing the goal of a cashless and uniform digital toll system across the country. So far, a total of 56,406 vehicles, including long-distance buses, commercial trucks, and private cars, have paid tolls electronically and crossed the bridge smoothly.
Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Secretary of the Bridge Division and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, said that the Bangladesh Bridge Authority is working tirelessly to implement the ETC system to bring discipline to road transport and provide fast and comfortable services to the people. He said that due to the overall guidance and supervision of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, the modern automatic toll collection system on the Padma Bridge is being operated successfully.
He further said that toll collection of over 10 crore taka through ETC and registration of more than one thousand vehicles is not just a statistic; it is an important progress on the path to making the country's transport system technology-dependent and cashless.
Currently, tolls for the Padma Bridge can be paid through various mobile financial services including 'Tap', bKash, Nagad, Upay, and digital banking apps of Trust Bank, Midland Bank, NCC Bank, Prime Bank, and Mutual Trust Bank.
For registration in ETC, users must go to the 'D-Toll' option in the relevant app and complete registration using the vehicle number and the last four digits of the chassis number. Then, after recharging the balance through the 'D-Toll Top-Up' service, they must go to the registration booth or toll booth of the Mawa Toll Plaza for the first time to verify the BRTA-approved RFID tag. Once registration is completed, in the future, using the ETC lane, one can cross the bridge without stopping.
The Bridge Authority said that many commercial and private vehicles, including Emad, Dola, Sarbik, and Golden Line transport on the country's southwestern routes, are already using ETC regularly.
Vehicles using the ETC lane do not need to stop at the toll plaza. Toll payment is completed automatically while moving at a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour. This reduces waiting time, decreases traffic congestion, saves fuel, and reduces carbon emissions.
The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has said that there are plans to expand this ETC model of the Padma Bridge to other bridges, expressways, and tunnels in the country in the future. At the same time, the authority has called upon all transport owners and drivers to complete their ETC registration quickly.
