Georgia : Sustainable Urban Transport Investment Program - Tranche 1

Transport / Transport policies and institutional development - Urban public transport - Urban roads and traffic management

The program targets investments in urban transport and related urban transport services across main cities in Georgia. This will improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion and

promote sustainable, safe, reliable and efficient transport.

Tranche 1 subprojects are as follows:

(i)Tbilisi metro extension (Vazha Pshavela avenue);

(ii)Anaklia Costal Improvement; and

(iii)Road improvements in Mestia.

Georgia has a population of only 4.62 million but is one of the most urbanized countries in the Caucasus. Urban areas are the pillars of economic growth and account for 53% of the

total population, nearly 2.5 million people. Urban areas can be divided into three groups: (i) the conurbation of Tbilisi and the adjacent city of Rustavi; (ii) the main secondary cities of Batumi, Gori, Kutaisi, and Poti; and (iii) cities with high tourism potential such as Anaklia, Borjomi, Gudauri, and Mestia. Although they differ in size, they all have common transport problems: rising traffic congestion, pollution, poor and inappropriate road infrastructure and highly inefficient urban transport systems.

Improved urban environment, local economy, and better living conditions within urban areas.

Efficient, reliable, and affordable urban transport services provided in relevant cities.

Urban transport infrastructure extended, rehabilitated and improved by MDF and relevant municipalities.

Institutional and management capacity of MDF and relevant municipalities strengthened.

Establishment of skilled and experienced units to oversee the management and the implementation of the program in MDF and the relevant municipalities.

Completed.

Partially completed.

Achieved.

Achieved as part of Tbilisi Urban Transport Forum (2014).

Completed.

Completed.

Completed with another donor.

Under implementation with another donor.

Under implementation with another donor.

Completed.

Achieved in 2014. Financed by local government.

Ongoing.

Including study tour, and visit to Tbilisi by transport experts.

Ongoing (not yet due).

Not yet due.

Not yet due.

Completed.

Completed.

Works completed in 2017.

Ongoing.

Project cancelled at Government request in 2012.

Partially achieved.

FS performed in 2011.

Detailed design is financed under L2879/2880-GEO: SUTIP, Tranche 2.

Achieved in 2014 for all subprojects prepared under SUTIP1.

Works completed in 2012.

Project stakeholder is Municipal Development Fund of Georgia (MDF). Its responsibilities include:

i) Overseeing the implementation of the investment program; ii) Checking and guiding safeguards compliance; iii) Monitoring and evaluating the implementation progress and impact; iv) Directing construction supervision; v) Coordinating among government agencies; vi) Overseeing the implementation of the institutional strengthening and capacity development; vii) Consolidating and preparing periodic reports for the investment program; viii) Making requests for disbursements; ix) Recruitment of additional staff and consultants, as necessary, to prepare and manage the program; x) Preparation of annual budget estimates for activities under the investment program for their eventual approval; xi) Procurement of consulting services, works and goods; xii) Ensuring subprojects compliance with safeguards and acquisition of land; xiii) Supervising detailed designs and feasibility studies; xiv) Preparation of the periodic financing requests (PFRs) for their submission to ADB.

The following consulting services packages have been recruited by MDF, mainly using QCBS 90:10 method:

(i) Mestia Road Improvement Construction. The contract has been extended to cover the 12 months defect notification period which ended on 31 December 2012.

(ii) Tbilisi Metro extension EPCM (contracted).

(iii) Tbilisi Gorgasali Road EPCM (terminated).

(iv) Anaklia Coastal Improvement EPCM, phases 1 and 2 (contracted, subproject financed under Tranche 1 (phase 1) and Tranche 3 (phase 2)).

(v) Tbilisi-Rustavi Urban Road Link EPCM (contracted, subproject financed under Tranche 2 (sections 2 and 3) and Tranche 3 (section 2)).

(vi) Tbilisi Mtkvari Bridge EPCM (terminated)

(vii) Batumi Coastal Improvement feasibility study (completed, subproject envisaged for Tranche 4).

(viii) Financial auditor for FY 2010-2013 (contracted).

(ix) Financial auditor for FY 2014-2018 (contracted).

Individual consultants were already recruited, and several others still needs to be recruited at very short term to increase MDF capacity on safeguards implementation and monitoring, and conduct review of the detailed design, bidding documents, and BOQ. Once the construction is in full speed, these experts will be also requested to conduct regular random checks and ensure that design, technology, technical specifications, and cost estimates proposed and being supervised by EPCM consultants are appropriate and correct.

The following are the status of the subprojects included in tranche 1:

(i) Mestia Road ($19.3 million, inclusive of taxes) improvement project has been completed in 2011 and the defect liability period ended on 31 December 2012.

(ii) Anaklia Coastal Improvement Phase 1 ($9.4 million, inclusive of taxes). The revised bid evaluation report was approved by ADB on 9 May 2013, and contract awarded on 12 June 2013.

(iii) Tbilisi Metro extension ($37.39 million, inclusive of taxes). The civil works contract was awarded in March 2015.

(iv) Design, Supply and Installation of Ventilator and Accessory Equipment in Tbilisi Metro. The contract has been signed in December 2018.