Padma Bridge Pioneers Pilot for Paperless Tolling
All vehicles except motorcycles can now pay tolls on the Padma Bridge without stopping at the toll plaza, thanks to the newly introduced Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. Four ETC lanes—two on each side of the bridge—have been set up for this purpose.
The system, launched as a pilot project on the afternoon of Monday, September 15, enables automatic toll deduction through a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag affixed to a vehicle’s windshield. The RFID-enabled stickers are issued by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) as part of its digital management and control framework.
Explaining the initiative, Sheikh Ishtiaq Ahmed, Additional Director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), said, “In testing, some minor errors are being detected. These will be fixed within 10–15 days. Once we receive approval from higher authorities, the system will go fully live.”
To use this system, vehicle owners must first register and recharge through the “D-Toll” option of Trust Bank Limited’s TAP app. Afterward, they need to visit an RFID booth at the Padma Bridge only once to complete the RFID tag verification and registration. Following this, vehicles can pass through ETC lanes at a minimum speed of 30 km/h, with tolls automatically deducted from the user’s account. In the future, other financial apps are expected to join the system. The ICT Division’s a2i program is working to integrate multiple financial applications with the platform.
According to sources, the Bridge Authority is moving toward a universal system that allows toll payments via any app. The digital payment infrastructure for ETC has been developed with the support of payment platforms. This will enable drivers to pay tolls using mobile financial services such as bKash, Rocket, Nagad, Upay, as well as other digital banking channels. The BBA has already signed agreements with several leading banks and financial institutions.
Earlier, on April 30, the Bridge Authority signed agreements with three banks and mobile financial service providers at a ceremony at the Bridge Division’s conference room in Dhaka. At the time, Bridge Division Secretary and BBA Executive Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf said, “The Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, has instructed us to ensure relief, time savings, and ease of service in highway toll collection. In line with that directive, the ETC system has been introduced. This marks a major milestone toward modern, technology-driven toll collection not only on the Padma Bridge but also on the Jamuna Bridge, the Karnaphuli Tunnel, and other structures.”
On this initiative, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, remarked, “The Bridge Division, BRTA, and DTCA have jointly undertaken some important digital transformation projects. Gradually, the results will start to show. This is our joint team’s test run. We hope to soon launch non-stop electronic toll collection at all toll gates across the country.”
