ADB is helping Afghanistan improve a national highway that will connect remote areas to the country's center. The project will upgrade the north-south corridor: 140.3 kilometers of the Mazar-e-Sharif-Dara-i-Suf road and 98.9 km of the Bamian-Yakawlang road. It will also install cross-border facilities at Hairatan and Spin Boldak, and include an HIV/AIDS prevention and anti-human trafficking drive.
Project Results
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751,305.90
average daily vehicle-kilometers using roads built or upgraded in the first full year of operation
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220.70
kilometers of road that have been built or upgraded
The results data reported above are limited to ADB's core sectors, as defined under Strategy 2020 and tracked through indicators in the ADB Results Framework. For definitions of results indicators, please see the ADB Results Framework Indicators Definition.
Project Name | North-South Corridor Project | ||||||||
Project Number | 39467-013 | ||||||||
Country | Afghanistan |
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Project Status | Closed | ||||||||
Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Grant Loan |
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Source of Funding / Amount |
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Strategic Agendas | Inclusive economic growth |
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Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Knowledge solutions |
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Sector / Subsector |
Health / Disease control of communicable disease Transport / Road transport (non-urban) |
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Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Some gender elements | ||||||||
Description | The Project is to (i) rehabilitate the Mazar-e-Sharif - Dara-i-Suf road (140.3 kilometers [km]) and the Bamian-Yakawlang road (98.9 km), (ii) install cross-border facilities in Spin Boldak, (iii) support campaigns to prevent HIV/AIDS and increase awareness of human trafficking; (iv) provide support for project management and monitoring, and (v) provide project management support to the Ministry of Public Works (MPW). | ||||||||
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | Since rehabilitation of roads started after more than two decades of conflict, the focus of the road rehabilitation program has been the reconstruction and completion of the regional highways. Once the current or planned projects are completed by 2008, the existing regional highway network will be improved to a two-lane bitumen-paved road standard, with certain four-lane sections near Kabul and Kandahar. In contrast, more than 90% of national highways and provincial roads are either earth or gravel, and more than 60% are in poor condition. Many are impassable at specific locations such as rivers and where severe erosion or landslides have occurred. Except for newly constructed bridges, most bridges and culverts along national highways and provincial roads are in bad condition. Many are in danger of collapse from heavily loaded vehicles or of being washed away. The Government's next priority is development of the north-south and east-west corridors, which connect the ring road horizontally and perpendicularly and improves access for people living in remote areas at the center of the country. With rehabilitation of regional highways nearing completion, ADB is placing priority on connecting the ring road through the north-south corridor or the east-west corridor as recommended by the road master plan prepared with ADB assistance. The project roads comprise the north-south and east-west corridors, which connect the central of the country to the major cities such as Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul, through which the ring road passes. | ||||||||
Impact | Economic and social development and poverty reduction in the project areas |
Project Outcome | |
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Description of Outcome | Improved road transport services in the project areas |
Progress Toward Outcome | Project closed. |
Implementation Progress | |
Description of Project Outputs | 1. Improvement of national highway sections from Mazar-e-Sharif to Dara-i-Suf 2. Cross-border facilities at Hairatan and Spin Boldak 3. Improvement of public awareness about HIV/AIDS 4. Improvement of national highway sections from Bamian to Yakawlang |
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | Con 1: Mazar-i-Sharif - Poli Baraq (76 km) is 100% complete; Con 2: Poli Baraq -Dara-i-Suf (58.94 km) is 100% complete; International roughness index are being measured. All equipment procured. Time taken for border crossing is significantly reduced. Completed The project is 100% completed and the international roughness index is being measured. |
Geographical Location | Bamyan, Bamyan, Bazar-e Yakawlang, Dara-I-Suf, Mazar-e Sharif, Mazari Sharif, Pul-e Baraq, Sholgara, Yakawlang |
Safeguard Categories | |
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Environment | B |
Involuntary Resettlement | A |
Indigenous Peoples | C |
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
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Environmental Aspects | Based on the type of project activities and environmental conditions of the project areas, the Project is categorized as _B_ in accordance with the ADB Guidelines on Environmental Assessment. Therefore the initial environmental examination (IEE) dy for rehabilitation and reconstruction of two project roads was undertaken as part of the feasibility study. The IEE report will be submitted to MPW for approval. The IEE found that the environmental impacts associated with the Project would mostly occur during construction. The impacts are temporary and most of the mitigation measures will be incorporated into the contract document. However, careful monitoring needs to be conducted for blasting related activities, disposal of spoiled (earth waste) materials, and potential landslides due to location of the Project mostly in mountainous and hilly areas. The contractor will be required to strictly implement the proposed mitigation measures. The IEE recommends that no environmental assessment study be conducted as the environmental impacts are temporary and insignificant. The proposed mitigation measures are manageable and most can be incorporated in the design, construction, and operation of the Project. The mitigation measures during construction will be incorporated in the contractor job assignments, therefore the IEE report will also be made available to the contractor. An environmental engineer, who will be hired as part of the consultant team supervising civil works for MPW, will assist in preparing contractual documents so that the bidding documents and other contractual obligations of the contractor clearly identify environmental responsibilities and describe penalties for noncompliance. MPW through its site offices will be responsible for implementing the overall environmental monitoring and management plan. Any change on alignment needs to be reported to ADB, and therefore the necessary environmental assessment study would be conducted. In addition, MPW, in close consultation with ADB, will provide remedial measures for unforeseen environmental impacts that were not covered in the IEE report. |
Involuntary Resettlement | Overall, the land acquisition and resettlement impact for the Project will be significant. The total land requirement has been estimated to be 212.6 hectares (ha), of which 162 ha is barren unproductive land and the remainder (50.6 ha) is privately owned agricultural land. Although most of the improvement works will be carried out within the existing right-of-way, a narrow strip of agricultural land to be acquired will affect about 1,515 households who will lose a portion of their total agricultural landholding and 4,000 wood trees. On average, the agricultural households would lose 0.028 0.008 ectares. Nearly 59 households will lose a portion of their residential structure, of these only 8 households will require relocation. About 141 households operating roadside shops/small businesses will be affected with the majority losing extended areas; 23 households will require relocation. No common property resources or religious structures will be affected but 110 employees and 785 sharecroppers will suffer temporary income losses. Overall the Project will affect 2,583 households and 21,517 people. |
Indigenous Peoples | Social analysis found no indigenous people in the project area. |
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
During Project Design | The project development and activities were discussed with the local communities during the consultation meetings at various project locations. The discussions were held with all the primary stakeholders and the secondary stakeholders including the local administration, Land Asset Agriculture Department, etc. and with various other international and local agencies involved with the rehabilitation and reconstruction in Afghanistan. The directly affected populations were consulted to understand their concerns regarding the road construction and gather suggestions on the types of mitigation measures that should be considered to address the envisaged impacts. The Project has identified and consulted with both primary and secondary stakeholders. During social analysis extensive consultations were carried out with the local people (men and women), road users, truck drivers, vehicle operators, shop owners, farmers, traders, nongovernment organizations in the prominent towns, villages in the project influence area to ascertain their response to the construction of road, and their needs and demands from the Project. Apart from the public meetings, focus group discussions were organized with the young, old, men, and women from different occupations and population groups to ensure a comprehensive perspective on the Project as well as its impacts. All those consulted had positive reactions toward the Project and welcomed the benefits that improved access and/or road conditions would provide. They also emphasized that households that will be adversely affected should be compensated by the Project for their losses, so that they are able to reestablish their livelihoods and take advantage of road improvement. During the Project Desing phase it was closely consulted with Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance. |
During Project Implementation | The loan agreement signed by Ministry of Finance (MoF) as an Employer and The project was implemented by Ministry of Public Works (MPW) as an Implementing Agency (IA). During implementation, MPW is assisted in conducting the consultations by the nongovernment organization (NGO) that were contracted for resettlement plan implementation. A summary of the resettlement plan and entitlement matrix translated into the local language (Dari) and disclosed to those affected and made available in local MPW offices, Afghanistan Resident Mission, and ADB website. The NGO kept the affected people informed about the impacts, compensation, and assistance proposed for them; and facilitated addressing any grievances. Those affected will participate in all the decisions and implementation of the resettlement plan. They were involved in the grievance redress committee to review and resolve any dispute concerning compensation and other resettlement benefits. Finally, onsite consultation is still continuous during project implementation to ensure that those affected receive their due entitlements/benefits. |
Business Opportunities | |
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Consulting Services | All consultant financed from the ADB loan will be selected and engaged in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants and other arrangements for recruitment of Domestic Consultants and other arrangements for recruitment of domestic consultants acceptable to ADB. |
Procurement | Procurement of goods, services and civil works to be financed under the loan will be carried out in accordance with ADB's Guidelines for Procurement. |
Responsible ADB Officer | Soetantri, Nana S R H |
Responsible ADB Department | Central and West Asia Department |
Responsible ADB Division | Afghanistan Resident Mission |
Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Public Health Dr. Mohammad Taufiq MASHAL [email protected] Afghanistan Ministry of Transport Engr. Ms. Marzia Sulaimankhel marzia sulimankhel First Macrorayan, Kabul,Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |
Timetable | |
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Concept Clearance | 31 Aug 2005 |
Fact Finding | 30 Apr 2006 to 10 May 2006 |
MRM | 06 Jun 2006 |
Approval | 26 Sep 2006 |
Last Review Mission | - |
PDS Creation Date | 24 Feb 2006 |
Last PDS Update | 26 Sep 2017 |
Grant 0054-AFG
Milestones | |||||
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Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
Original | Revised | Actual | |||
26 Sep 2006 | 02 Nov 2006 | 11 Jan 2007 | 30 Jun 2011 | 30 Nov 2012 | 19 Aug 2013 |
Financing Plan | Grant Utilization | ||||
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Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
Project Cost | 40.00 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
ADB | 40.00 | 26 Sep 2006 | 37.67 | 0.00 | 94% |
Counterpart | 0.00 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
Cofinancing | 0.00 | 26 Sep 2006 | 37.67 | 0.00 | 94% |
Status of Covenants | ||||||
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Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
Rating | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | - | Satisfactory |
Loan 2257-AFG
Milestones | |||||
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Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
Original | Revised | Actual | |||
26 Sep 2006 | 02 Nov 2006 | 11 Jan 2007 | 30 Jun 2017 | - | 16 Nov 2017 |
Financing Plan | Loan Utilization | ||||
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Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
Project Cost | 80.90 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
ADB | 78.20 | 26 Sep 2006 | 80.26 | 0.00 | 100% |
Counterpart | 2.70 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
Cofinancing | 0.00 | 26 Sep 2006 | 80.26 | 0.00 | 100% |
Status of Covenants | ||||||
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Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
Rating | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | - | Satisfactory |
Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.
In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
Title | Document Type | Document Date |
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North-South Corridor Project - Project 1: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | Jun 2016 |
North-South Corridor Project | Project/Program Completion Reports | Sep 2013 |
Amendment to the Financing Agreement for the North-South Corridor Project between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Asian Development Bank dated 7 March 2011 | Financing Agreement | Mar 2011 |
North-South Corridor Project | Project/Program Administration Manual | May 2007 |
Financing Agreement for North-South Corridor Project between The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Asian Development Bank dated 2 November 2006 | Financing Agreement | Sep 2006 |
North-South Corridor Project | Reports and Recommendations of the President | Sep 2006 |
Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.
Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation
None currently available.
Related Publications
None currently available.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.
Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.
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Afghanistan Highway Connects Country to Central Asia and Middle East
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Tenders
No tenders for this project were found.
Contracts Awarded
No contracts awarded for this project were found
Procurement Plan
Title | Document Type | Document Date |
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North-South Corridor Project - Project 1: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | Jun 2016 |