| Project Detail |
The project road is a two-lane carriageway and carries about 14,000 vehicles per day. Traffic is forecast to reach 48,800 vehicles per day by 2041. The road will be median-divided and provides service lanes, footpath, and cycle lane in urban areas. Through the project, the road will be upgraded to a two-lane dual carriageway to accommodate the increasing traffic demand, with improved geometry, pavement, drainage, road safety, and climate- and disaster-resilient features. Grade separation or traffic signal will be adopted at junctions to improve safety for vulnerable road users including women and children who are more likely to walk, cycle or use public transport. River training and bank protection works will minimize the risk of erosion. The project design incorporates lessons from previous projects, including readiness, procurement, asset management and sustainability.
Project Name South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Highway Enhancement Project (Kakarbhitta-Laukahi)
Project Number 52097-003
Country / Economy Nepal
Project Status Approved
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Loan
Technical Assistance
The project road is a two-lane carriageway and carries about 14,000 vehicles per day. Traffic is forecast to reach 48,800 vehicles per day by 2041. The road will be median-divided and provides service lanes, footpath, and cycle lane in urban areas. Through the project, the road will be upgraded to a two-lane dual carriageway to accommodate the increasing traffic demand, with improved geometry, pavement, drainage, road safety, and climate- and disaster-resilient features. Grade separation or traffic signal will be adopted at junctions to improve safety for vulnerable road users including women and children who are more likely to walk, cycle or use public transport. River training and bank protection works will minimize the risk of erosion. The project design incorporates lessons from previous projects, including readiness, procurement, asset management and sustainability.
The project will be aligned with the following impact: balanced and diversified international trade route promoted and economic interconnectivity improved. The project will have the following outcome: connectivity, capacity, efficiency, and safety of the road transport system along the EWH improved.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
The project road forms part of SASEC Corridor 4 linking Kathmandu via Kakarbhitta to Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh. The project will also (i) boost border trade and logistics by reducing transport costs; and (ii) improve standards of living of rural communities, including for women and disadvantaged groups, by developing better infrastructure assets with safety and climate- and disaster risk-resilient features. This intervention is part of a series of SASEC road projects along the EWH funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The project is consistent with the following operational priorities of ADBs Strategy 2030: (i) addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities; (ii) accelerating progress in gender equality; (iii) tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability; (iv) promoting rural development; (v) strengthening governance and institutional capacity; and (vi) fostering regional cooperation and integration. The project is also consistent with the SASEC operational plan 2016-2025 update and the objectives set out in ADBs country partnership strategy for Nepal, 2020-2024 to improve infrastructure for private sector-led growth by (i) strengthening road and trade facilitation for domestic, regional, and international connectivity; (ii) reducing the costs of production and trade for businesses; and (iii) attracting private investment.
Impact
Balanced and diversified international trade route promoted and economic interconnectivity improved |
