The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of USD 300 million (around NRs. 39.5 billion) for the improvement of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road which facilitates international trade routes for Nepal, particularly to India and Bangladesh.
The project will cover the upgradation of around 95 kilometers of road from Kakarbhitta to Laukahi from a two-lane to a four-lane dual roadway.
Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the ADB informed that estimated project road is along the East-West Highway which forms part of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation corridor (SASEC) and better infrastructure will boost border trade and improve the lives of rural communities.
An additional USD 750,000 will be extended by the ADB as a technical assistance grant 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.
As per the expectation, the improved road will incorporate disaster-resilient design and improved road safety through features.