Shawdesh Desk:

At last after years of waiting the Padma Bridge was open for vehicular movement from Sunday morning.

On the first day, people on buses, cars and motorcycles get on the bridge in a festive mood.

Defying order, many people were seen walking and taking photos on the bridge parking their vehicles aside.

The opening of the bridge has brought comfort to the workers of goods-laden vehicles as their long wait at the ferry terminals has finally come to an end.

Earlier the prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Bridge on Saturday amid grand celebrations and enthusiasm, connecting the region’s 21 districts with the capital Dhaka and other areas.

Bangladesh Bridge Authority has constructed the 6.15-kilometre road-cum-railway bridge between Mawa point in Munshiganj and Janjira point in Shariatpur at the expense of Tk 30,193 crore, entirely financed by the Bangladesh government.

The government on May 17 fixed the toll rates, range from Tk 100 to over Tk 6,000 for different vehicles including motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks and trailers, for using the bridge.

Witnesses said that since Sunday early hours many vehicles were seen waiting in queues at both sides of the bridge.

At about 6:00am the toll plaza of both the sides started collecting tolls and the vehicles started crossing the bridge.

A major portion of the people were visitors, specifically those on motorcycles.

People even reserved buses to see the bridge while they also brought balloons and played song.

People were seen taking photos and walking on the bridge parking there vehicles aside though it was forbidden.

Police vehicles were also seen patrolling the bridge.

The bridge will cut travel time between the capital Dhaka and other major cities significantly, giving the country’s south-west region a much-needed economic boost.