Electronic toll collection launched on Padma Bridge

Padma Bridge

Munshiganj, Sept 16 – The trial of Electronic Toll Collection System (ETCS) has officially been piloted on the Padma Bridge.

The live trial began on Monday at 2pm, said Sheikh Ishtiaq Ahmed, additional director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) and in charge of Padma Bridge operations.

As a result, all vehicles—except motorcycles—will now be able to pay tolls while running through four designated ETC lanes on both ends of the bridge.

He said, “We’ve seen success in several cases, though some minor errors have occurred. Piloting will continue for now, and we expect full readiness in 10–15 days. The system may go fully live from October 1 or a later date, as per the authorities' directive.”

To use the system, vehicle owners must first register through the ‘D-Toll’ option in the TAP app of Trust Bank and complete a prepaid recharge.

Then, the vehicle’s RFID tag must be checked and registered at the designated booths on the Padma Bridge.

Once registered, vehicles can pass through the ETC lanes at speeds of up to 30 km/h, with tolls automatically deducted via RFID technology, eliminating the need to stop or handle cash.

On Monday afternoon, a public vehicle successfully paid the toll while in motion.

The bridge authority said that although several cases were successful during live piloting, minor errors did occur, which have since been addressed.

The drivers expressed satisfaction with the system, praising the manless, cashless, and uninterrupted toll experience.

Since its inauguration on June 26, 2022, an average of 18,000 vehicles have been using the Padma Bridge daily. There are currently 15 toll lanes on both ends of the bridge, of which four—two at each end—are now equipped for ETC.

The remaining 11 lanes will continue manual toll collection.

Experts believe the introduction of ETCS marks a significant step toward the digital transformation of the country’s road infrastructure and may pave the way for expansion to other major bridges and highways in the future. - UNB