There are discussions underway about building a second Padma Bridge or tunnel at the Paturia-Goalundo point. According to a survey by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the cost of building the second Padma Bridge or tunnel could be 269.01 billion Japanese yen. Based on the latest exchange rates, this equals about BDT 209.06 billion. This means the second Padma Bridge or tunnel could be constructed at 32 percent less cost than the first.

Infrastructure experts and others involved in the project have raised concerns about the high cost of constructing the Padma Bridge under the previous Awami League government. They point out that the cost of similar bridges in neighboring countries and worldwide is significantly lower than the Padma Bridge.

Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, also acknowledges this. He told Bonik Barta, "The construction cost of the Padma Bridge was high, and it doesn't take an expert to figure that out. Everyone knows that. It's not just the Padma Bridge; the cost of the Padma Bridge rail link project was also much higher."

So far, no feasibility study has been conducted to construct the second Padma Bridge or tunnel at the Paturia-Goalundo point. As a result, the exact length of the bridge or tunnel at this location remains unknown. However, during the feasibility study for constructing the current Padma Bridge, the Paturia-Goalundo point was also considered as an alternative. The study estimated that if a bridge were built at this point, it would be 6.1 kilometers long. Based on this, the length of the second Padma Bridge or tunnel could be similar to the first one. While the Padma Bridge includes both road and rail tracks, the JICA study did not mention incorporating a rail track into the second Padma Bridge or tunnel.

According to JICA's preliminary estimate, constructing the second Padma Bridge or tunnel would cost BDT 79.0828 billion for civil works. The cost for price adjustments is projected to be BDT 60.6373 billion. Unexpected expenses for physical work (physical contingency) would amount to BDT 13.9722 billion. Additionally, the study includes estimates for various other costs: consultancy fees would be BDT 6.9072 billion, interest during construction would be BDT 7.0565 billion, commitment fees would be BDT 321 million, land acquisition costs would be BDT 602.3 million, administrative costs would be BDT 8.0597 billion, and VAT, import duties, and other taxes would total BDT 32.4255 billion.

On the other hand, an analysis of the costs of the existing Padma Bridge reveals that BDT 124.93 billion was spent on the construction of the main bridge, BDT 89.72 billion on river management, BDT 19.07 billion on the construction of access roads and service areas, and BDT 43.42 billion on land acquisition. Additionally, BDT 24.76 billion was spent on consultancy, IT, VAT, and other expenses.

Dr. Shamsul Haque, an infrastructure expert and professor from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), told Bonik Barta, "Many unnecessary tasks were carried out in the existing Padma Bridge project, which increased costs. A cantonment was created for the Padma Bridge. The construction site was supposed to be leased, but permanent procurement was made. Thirty-six bungalows were built, and yachts were purchased. There's no clear way to track how much unnecessary spending has been included in these costs."

Dr Shamsul Haque, pointing out that the actual cost of building similar infrastructure could be even lower than the estimate provided by JICA for the second Padma Bridge or tunnel, said, "From experience, we have seen that JICA has been involved in government-to-government projects in Bangladesh. They conducted the surveys, designed the plans, and even their preferred contractors carried out the work. In such cases, issues like conflicts of interest arise, which increases the likelihood of higher costs. If JICA's estimate is carefully reviewed and proper negotiations are conducted with them, the second Padma Bridge or tunnel could be built at an even lower cost."

According to JICA's report, the bridge or tunnel construction is expected to be completed by 2032. The preparatory survey is scheduled from April 2024 to March 2025. The process of appointing consultants for the project will be completed between April 2025 and March 2026. Detailed design work is planned from April 2026 to March 2027. The main contractor for the project will be appointed between April 2024 and June 2028. The construction of the main bridge or tunnel will begin in July 2028. The building will be completed within 54 months, by December 2032.

However, the Padma Bridge project adviser, Fouzul Kabir Khan, has dismissed the possibility of constructing a second bridge or tunnel over the Padma for now. He said, "Before considering the construction of a second Padma Bridge or tunnel, we must prioritize the development of other regions of our country. Every area of the country is in demand for infrastructure development. In this corridor, we already have the Padma Bridge, the Padma Rail Link, and significant improvements in road connectivity. Therefore, we want to focus on developing other areas of the country. For instance, the demand for a bridge in Bhola has been there for a long time. There are many other places where large bridges must be built, and communication infrastructure needs improvement. We will make decisions after considering all these factors. We will also observe the utilization level of the Padma Bridge. We will make the next decisions based on how the Padma Bridge is being used."