Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $186.80m to improve Nepal’s strategic road network and domestic and regional transport connectivity.

About 160km of strategic road network will be improved.

The project works include upgradation of a section on the strategic East-West highway, which is the arterial road cutting across the entire width of the country in the southern Terai area, as well as a key feeder road.

These critical sections are the 115km road network running from Narayanghat to Butwal, and the 45km feeder road from Bhairahawa to Taulihawa.

ADB South Asia Regional Department senior transport specialist Lee Ming Tai said: “This project supports the government’s plans to further develop Nepal’s infrastructure and connectivity within and outside the country.

“These road improvements will help 673,000 people in the Terai area have better access to schools, hospitals, jobs, as well as local and international markets.”

Improvement works will carried out on roads that are located in Nepal’s tropical climate zone which experiences heavy rainfall from June to September. For this reason, flood control and drainage designs have also been included as part of project works in anticipation of more frequent and intense rainfalls in the area as a result of climate change.

"These road improvements will help 673,000 people in the Terai area have better access to schools, hospitals, jobs, as well as local and international markets."

The project will contribute to ADB’s commitment to increase climate finance by nearly $66.5m.

The new road sections will feature service lanes, as well as walkways on both sides of the roads, and pedestrian crossings and accident emergency response systems at critical locations.

Total cost of the project is $256.50m, with the government contributing $69.70m. The road improvement project is expected to complete by 2022.

Image: A road in Nepal. Photo: Courtesy of Asian Development Bank.