The World Bank has signed agreements with the Government of Nepal to provide $155.7m worth of funding for two projects.

The first $133m grant will be used for the construction and maintenance of safe, resilient and cost-effective bridges.

Nepal finance minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada said: “The first credit of $133m will be instrumental in ensuring the well-being of the country’s strategic roads network, comprising of roughly 12,142km of national highways, feeder roads and other roads of national importance.”

The country’s Second Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Programme targets 477 bridges along the strategic roads network.

“The first credit of $133m will be instrumental in ensuring the well-being of the country’s strategic roads network.”

It includes maintenance support for nearly 90 bridges and improvements in road safety measures on approximately 180 existing bridges to minimise accidents, injuries and fatalities.

Nepal’s Department of Roads will construct 92 bridges considered key to improving connectivity and access throughout the country.

Under the second agreement, the World Bank will provide a grant of $22.7m to support the country’s food and nutrition security enhancement project.

Khatiwada said: “The second project will be in the form of a grant of $22.7m that contributes to the government’s capacity to deliver agriculture extension services at the decentralised levels, and to diversify income opportunities for the rural poor.”