World Bank helps improve bridge connectivity and access in Nepal

The World Bank approved a $133 million credit to help Nepal construct and maintain safe, resilient and cost-effective bridges on its Strategic Roads Network. The Strategic Roads Network comprises Nepal’s transport backbone and includes roughly 12,142 kilometers of national highways, feeder roads and other roads of national importance that are connected by 1,773 bridges.

The Second Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Program (BIMP II) takes aim at ensuring that the Government of Nepal’s bridge development efforts can support the connectivity required for economic growth and development across Nepal’s provinces. New initiatives under BIMP II include support to improve bridge resilience and enhance inclusion of non-motorized transport modes using advanced technical designs.

The credit is targeted to provide support to approximately 477 bridges in Nepal in different ways. This includes maintenance support to approximately 90 bridges and upgrading road safety measures on approximately 180 existing bridges to help reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on Nepal’s roads. The program will also support construction, rehabilitation or replacement of approximately 80 new two-lane bridges and 35 four-lane bridges. In addition, it will help the Department of Roads complete construction of 92 bridges that are vital to improving connectivity and access throughout Nepal.

“Nepal needs a strong bridge network and even stronger institutions to manage and develop that network into the future. BIMP II aims at supporting both the network’s physical development as well as the government systems that manage it,” said Faris Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Manager for Nepal. “We hope that the improvement of bridges in the most crucial road network of the country will lead to increased and easier access for all the people in Nepal while reducing the cost and time of transport and trade,” he added.

The World Bank currently supports 23 active investment projects in Nepal with $2.63 billion dollars in commitments from IDA.

Original source: World Bank
Published on 26 September 2018