Dhaka:Traffic movement remained smooth across major bridges and tunnels in Bangladesh during the Durga Puja holidays, despite increased vehicle pressure. This was achieved through advance preparations, round-the-clock monitoring, and coordinated traffic management by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a total of 160,616 vehicles crossed the Padma Bridge from October 19 to 24, generating more than Taka 17.71 crore in tolls. This represented a 17.3 percent increase in vehicle movement and an additional Taka 1.78 crore in toll revenue compared to the same period last year.
The Jamuna Bridge saw 173,401 vehicles during the same timeframe, with toll collection exceeding Taka 14.82 crore, an increase of Taka 1.98 crore from the previous year. Meanwhile, traffic through the Karnaphuli Tunnel declined slightly, with 27,913 vehicles using the tunnel, generating Taka 79.25 lakh in tolls. This was a decrease from the previous year’s 29,860 vehicles and Taka 80.99 lakh in toll revenue.
Significant growth was observed on the Muktarpur Bridge, where 78,746 vehicles crossed during the six days, compared to 58,948 a year earlier. Toll collection increased by Taka 6 lakh, reaching Taka 40.19 lakh.
To manage the increased traffic during the festival, the BBA set up a central control room at its headquarters and utilized CCTV cameras for monitoring. The control room maintained continuous communication with site offices and coordinated prompt actions when vehicles were stranded. An emergency hotline was also operated for assistance.
Activities were conducted under the guidance of Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam and State Minister Md Rajib Ahsan, with supervision by Bridges Division Secretary and BBA Executive Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf. During an inspection at the Jamuna Bridge, Abdur Rouf confirmed no significant congestion and instructed officials to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Continuous monitoring was also maintained at other major projects, including the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project areas. The BBA attributed the smooth traffic movement to the coordinated efforts of site offices, local administration, police, and other responsible entities.