The number of vehicles crossing the Padma Bridge has dropped sharply on the second day following a ban imposed on the movement of motorbikes.

According to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, 15,400 vehicles crossed the bridge in the last 24 hours from 6:00am on Monday to 6:00am on Tuesday.

However, the number of vehicles has fallen as motorcycles were barred from crossing the bridge from Monday, said Tofazzal Hossain, an engineer at the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.

The government raked in about Tk 27.5 million in toll in the first 24 hours while the amount was Tk 20 million in the past 24 hours, he said.

“In the second 24-hour period, 15,400 vehicles crossed the bridge. A little over Tk 19.8 million was collected as toll,” said another bridge authority official.

The Padma Bridge opened to traffic on Sunday after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated it on Saturday.

Thousands flocked to the mega structure on the first day to have a glimpse of it and be part of history. Most of the vehicles were motorcycles.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said the decision to allow motorcycles on the Padma Bridge will be taken after the installation of CCTV cameras and speed guns.

“The ban is not permanent. After the installations are complete, a new decision will be taken,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

Following the ban, bikers staged demonstrations blocking bridge entry at Mawa end on Monday morning.

They were also seen crossing the bridge along with their motorcycles on pickups.