Cashless Crossing Commences at Padma Bridge

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has launched a state-of-the-art, cashless, toll collector–free Nonstop Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system on the Padma Bridge. This initiative has brought the country’s toll payment process under a faster, more transparent, and fully digital mechanism.

At present, tolls for the Padma Bridge can be paid through bKash, Trust Bank’s TAP app, and Midland Bank’s mobile app. So far, a total of 1,814 vehicles have crossed the bridge using the ETC system, collecting Tk 3,491,700 in tolls.

Users can register their vehicles by entering the “Toll” option in the bKash app and selecting “Register Motor Vehicle.” Registration requires the vehicle number and the last four digits of the chassis number. Upon successful registration, users receive an Ekpass ID via SMS.

This Ekpass ID can then be used to recharge through the “D-Toll Top-Up” service under the “Pay Bill” option in the bKash app. At the Mawa Toll Plaza, users must visit the nearby registration booth once to verify the BRTA-approved RFID tag and complete the process. After registration, vehicles can use the ETC lane to cross the bridge seamlessly at a minimum speed of 30 km/h.

The live piloting of the ETC system on the Padma Bridge began on 15 September 2025 via Trust Bank’s TAP app, and the service has been gradually expanding since then. According to the Road Transport and Bridges Division, 1,814 vehicles have already crossed the bridge through this automated system, collecting Tk 3,491,700 in tolls.

Implemented under the special guidance of Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, this initiative marks a milestone in Bangladesh’s toll management system. It is expected to play a significant role in reducing time, fuel, and manpower wastage.

The ICT Division’s a2i (Aspire to Innovate) program is coordinating the effort, and work is ongoing to integrate additional financial service providers into the system. Officials expect that more financial apps will soon join the platform.

Through this toll collector–free, nonstop electronic toll collection system, Padma Bridge users can now pay tolls swiftly, safely, and transparently—an epoch-making step in Bangladesh’s journey toward digital transformation.