The government has raised the bus fares on 13 routes adding the toll fixed for crossing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge to go to different south-western districts.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) issued a notification in this regard signed by its director (Engineering) Sitangshu Biswas on Tuesday.

Citing the BRTA’s notification issued on May 17, it said the fare has been revised 40-seat (excluding driver) bus instead of 51-seat after adding toll of Padma Bridge.

Also read: Padma Bridge to lead to unprecedented improvement in communication system: Kamal

According to the notification, the bus fare on Dhaka-Bhanga-Madaripur-Barishal route has been fixed at Tk 412. Apart from this, the fare on Dhaka-Rajoir-Gopalganj route is Tk 504 while on Dhaka-Gopalganj-Khulna at Tk 649, Dhaka-Jajira-Shariatpur route Tk 218, on Dhaka-Barishal-Pirojpur Tk 534, on Dhaka-Gopalganj-Bagerhat-Pirojpur Tk 628, on Dhaka-Barishal-Patuakhali Tk 501 and on Dhaka-Bhanga-Madaripur Tk 327.

Besides, the fare on Dhaka-Gopalganj-Khulna-Satkhira is Tk 633 while Tk 288 on Dhaka-Bhanga-Faridpur, Tk 653 on Dhaka-Madaripur-Barishal-Bhola-Char Fashion, Tk 219 on Dhaka- Buriganga second bridge-Shariatpur, and Tk 694 on Dhaka-Madaripur-Barishal-Patuakhali-Kuakata.

This new rate will come into effect after the inauguration of the bridge.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Padma Bridge on June 25, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on May 25.

Bridges Authority has, meanwhile, said that the revised cost of the ambitious Padma Bridge project is Tk 30,193.39 crore.