ADB approves $300 million loan to Nepal to improve transport connectivity

Kathmandu, Nepal, May 18, 2023: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million loan to Nepal to improve transport connectivity of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road to international trade routes, particularly to neighboring India and Bangladesh.

“At least 95 kilometers of road from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi will be upgraded from two lanes to a four-lane dual roadway incorporating climate and disaster-resilient design features such as higher thermal resistant pavements and bridges with stringent flood-proofing requirement,” reads the a statement released by the ADB.

According to the release, the ADB will provide an additional $750,000 technical assistance grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund to develop climate change mitigation and adaptation guidelines for road projects, bidding documents, performance indicators, and a user handbook on long-term performance-based maintenance.

“The ADB is committed to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty,” reads the released adding “the project will improve road safety through features such as junctions with traffic signals, footpaths with streetlights and tactile paving surface, overhead pedestrian crossings, road crossings with raised platforms, and bus stops equipped with lighting systems.”