World Bank grants loan to improve Nepal’s Strategic Roads Network

The World Bank has sanctioned a $133m loan to Nepal for the construction and maintenance of safe, resilient and cost-effective bridges on the country’s Strategic Roads Network.

Comprising Nepal’s transport backbone, the Strategic Roads Network includes aproximatey 12,142km of national highways, feeder roads and other roads that are connected by 1,773 bridges.

The Second Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Program (BIMP II) aims to ensure that the Government of Nepal’s bridge development efforts can support the connectivity required for economic growth and development across the country.

World Bank Nepal country manager Faris Hadad-Zervos said: “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.

“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.”

The fund will cover a total of approximately 477 bridges in Nepal in different ways such as maintenance support for more than 90 bridges and upgraded road safety measures on nearly 180 existing bridges.

Improvements on the Strategic Roads Network bridges will help to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on Nepal’s roads.

Additionally, the investment will support construction, rehabilitation or replacement of some 80 new two-lane bridges and 35 four-lane bridges.

Using the fund, the Department of Roads plans to conclude the construction of 92 bridges that are vital to improving connectivity and access across the country.

Currently, the World Bank supports 23 active investment projects in Nepal with $2.63bn in commitments from the International Development Association (IDA).