BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 28. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved additional grant financing of $43.2 million to enhance the safety and reliability of the road network in southern Tajikistan, Trend reports citing the ADB.
The grant supplements an ongoing ADB grant of $67.5 million approved in 2020 to rehabilitate the Dangara-Okmazor and Hulbuk-Kangurt road sections, assist in the development of the road asset management system, and engage women along the sections in socioeconomic opportunities.
Within the framework of this project, a 40-kilometer section of road from Okmazor to Bokhtar in the Khatlon region in southern Tajikistan will be rehabilitated. The design incorporates climate-resilient features to protect the road from potential extreme weather and make it accessible all year. It also includes safety features to improve the safety and comfort of road users.
"This project will help strengthen regional connectivity in southern Tajikistan, with local people and businesses standing to benefit from the improved roads. Our ongoing assistance to develop the road asset management system will help the government identify where maintenance is needed and implement it timely – ultimately helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of roads," ADB Transport Specialist for Central and West Asia Rika Idei
In addition, the project will also support women residing along the Okmazor-Bokhtar road section through education programs designed to impart critical skills in managing business start-ups and household finances.