39225-034 - South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity Project

ADB and the Government of Bhutan are working together to bring safer roads and more opportunities to the southern part of the country. The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity Project will build 68.3 km of the vital Southern East West Highway between the towns of Dewathang and Nganglam, which is one of the main crossing points between Bhutan and India. The new stretch of road will improve the connection between Bhutan''s main northsouth highways and India''s national highway network. As a result, travel time between Nganglam and Dewathang is being reduced by 80% from 12 hours to just a few hours. The project is also building a 1.2 km access road between Bhutan''s border with India and the Pasakha industrial estate, reducing travel time by 90 percent from nearly two hours to about 10 minutes. Border crossing stations in Phuentsholing City the town of Alay will also be improved, and a 2.7 km access road to the national highway will be built.