Padma Bridge has launched a new non-stop, cashless Electronic Toll Collection system that lets vehicles pass without stopping and pay digitally, officials said. The new system uses bKash, Trust Bank’s TAP app and Midland Bank’s app so drivers can register in the bKash app by entering their vehicle number and the last four digits of the chassis number to receive an Ekpass ID by SMS, and then top up the D-Toll account and verify a BRTA-approved RFID tag at the registration booth near the Mawa Toll Plaza. Once registered, vehicles can move through the ETC lanes at up to 30 km/h, cutting waiting time, saving fuel and reducing congestion. A live pilot via TAP began and since then 1,814 vehicles have crossed through the ETC system and Tk34.91 lakh has been collected in tolls, showing that the system works and that users are willing to switch to digital payments. The ETC is collector-free which means fewer staff on site and a cleaner, more transparent payment trail that can make accounting and audits easier for the bridge authority. The a2i programme from the ICT Division is helping to onboard more payment partners and to make sure the technology links well with bank and mobile platforms, so more digital wallets may join soon and make the system even more flexible. The lighter traffic flow and shorter stop times are expected to cut emissions because vehicles spend less time idling, and the reduced use of cash lowers the risk of loss or error while making payments faster for drivers and passengers. Officials say the ETC will also improve road safety by lowering stop-and-go movements at toll plazas and by reducing human contact in the payment process, which can help health and comfort for drivers. The launch shows how a big national project can add digital services that benefit everyday travelers and local trade, and it signals a move toward modern toll management across the country. New users can register quickly and receive clear instructions, and the RFID-based system is built to work in all weather and to be easy to maintain. As more vehicles adopt D-Toll accounts and as more apps join the network, the Padma Bridge ETC should make travel smoother, save time and money for commuters, cut paperwork for managers and open the door to more digital transport services for communities that rely on the bridge for work and business. Authorities plan to expand the system and set up more registration booths, run information campaigns and offer help desks plus video guides so drivers learn how to use apps and RFID tags. Improved signage and staff support during the rollout will make the change smooth for everyone who uses the bridge.
