The government has named the multipurpose bridge constructed connecting Shariatpur and Munshiganj districts on the Padma river as Padma Bridge. The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on Sunday issued a gazette notification in this regard following the direction of President Abdul Hamid. “The under-construction bridge over the Padma River under ‘Padma Multipurpose Bridge Construction Project’ implemented by Bangladesh Bridge Authority under the Bridge Department of the ministry connecting Mawa point of Munshiganj and Jajira point of Shariatpur has been named the Padma Bridge,” said the notice. Also Read: Hasina to unveil Padma Bridge on June 25 The order issued in the public interest will be implemented immediately, it said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Padma Bridge on June 25 this year. According to the progress report of the project received last April, work on the bridge was 92% complete. At the time, the work of river management was 90.50% done. In addition, the carpeting work of the main bridge was 66% complete.

The government on Tuesday finalised the toll rate for different types of vehicles for crossing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. The Bridges Division under Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Tuesday. Also read:Dhaka-Bhanga train service through Padma Bridge to open by June, 2023: Railways Minister According to the notification, Tk 100 toll has been fixed for motorbike, Tk 750 for private car and jeep, Tk 1200 from pick-up, Tk 1300 for microbus, Tk 1400 for small bus (with 31 seats), Tk 2000 for middle bus (with 32 seats), Tk 2400 for big size bus, Tk 1600 for small truck (5 tonnes), Tk 2100 for middle size truck (over 5 tonnes to 8 tonnes),  Tk 2800 for middle size truck (over 8 tonnes to 11 tonnes), Tk 5500 for big truck (up to 3 excel) Tk 6000 for trailer truck (4 excel) and Tk 6,000 plus for trailer (over 4 excel). Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on May 11 said the much-hyped Padma Bridge will be inaugurated in June and preparations are going on for its opening.   Also read: Padma Bridge inauguration in June: Quader Quader, made the remarks while briefing reporters after the 111th board meeting of Bangladesh Bridge Authority at the conference room of Bridges Division in the capital.    The minister said the work progress of the main bridge is 98 per cent while river training is 92 per cent and the progress of carpeting work is 91 per cent.

The implementation tenure of Parma Bridge project, a mega project of the country, has been extended up to 2022 as its works suffered setback due to COVID-19 pandemic and floods. 

Strongly opposing the government’s decision to hike bus fares, the BNP on Sunday said the move will add a new onslaught on the poor as well as those who lost their means of earnings amid the coronavirus shutdown.

About 3,600 metres of the much-hyped Padma Bridge became visible after the installation of the 24thd span on Tuesday.