The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted Georgia $300m to assist in unclogging traffic-congested cities in the country, including its capital Tbilisi.

The loan will be part of Georgia’s $1.1bn urban transport overhaul programme, expected to be completed by 2018, according to ADB.

The investment programme is intended to ease chronic traffic congestion, reduce road accidents and pollution, and improve the efficiency, reliability and affordability of urban transport services.

The ADB said part of its first tranche of $85m will be used for building roads, pedestrian and cycle paths in Georgia.

The other donor agencies for the project include World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.