Sri Lanka : Integrated Road Investment Program-Tranche 2

Transport / Road transport (non-urban)

The investment program supports the Government's sector objective of establishing a modern and inclusive transport system that will enable acceleration of economic growth, with reduced travel time and cost, and improved safety. It is envisaged to improve and sustain connectivity between rural communities and socioeconomic centers in Sri Lanka. The immediate outcome will be increased transport efficiency on project roads in the country.

improved connectivity between rural communities and socioeconomic centers in Sri Lanka

increased transport efficiency on project roads.

Improved road conditions between the selected rural communities and socioeconomic centers.

Contracts awarded to improve 2553 km of rural roads and and rehabilitation completed for 2082 km. Performance Based Maintenance is in progress.

25 km national road awarded and works are on-going. Procurement ongoing for award of 146 km national roads.

Likely to be achieved.

Tranche 2 is classified as category B in accordance with ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) (SPS). The scope of tranche 2 includes the rehabilitation and maintenance of existing rural and national roads. All improvements will be confined to the existing alignment and right of way. Five province level initial environmental examinations (IEE) for the rural roads and one consolidated IEE for the national roads have been prepared in accordance with the Environmental Assessment and Review Framework (EARF) for the MFF and the ADB SPS requirements. All six IEEs are disclosed on the ADB website.

Anticipated environmental impacts entail typical road improvement and maintenance related issues such as generation of dust, noise, exhaust, waste from construction sites and worker camps, water contamination, occupational health and safety, erosion, and siltation. Mitigation measures have been included in a standard environmental management plan (EMP) as part of each IEE. The contractor will be required to prepare contract package-specific EMPs based on their final design, road-specific environment checklists, and the standard EMP. Consultations have been conducted during project preparation, and the IEEs incorporate the concerns of the affected persons and stakeholders.

The monitoring and implementation of the EMP and compliance to requirements of the EARF, respective IEE, ADB SPS and domestic environmental regulations will be implemented by RDA through its provincial project implementation units (PIU).13 Each PIU will have a dedicated safeguards team that will be supported by the project implementation consultant for safeguards implementation and monitoring. Capacity building activities will be implemented across all PIUs and the project implementation consultant on a continuous basis to ensure that proper contract specific EMPs are prepared and strictly implemented.

Consultation and social surveys were conducted along all project roads, and covered 46,820 households (approximately 23% of the households along the project roads). The current road conditions were described as bad or very bad by 66% of surveyed households. Communities indicated that the poor conditions prevented safe travel, and cited that positive benefits will include improved access to education and health, better transport services, and increased job opportunities. Communities will be consulted through a transect walk to ensure that the final design of rural access roads incorporate their concerns on construction, social and environmental issues, and road safety.

Detailed community consultation guidelines for finalizing the detailed design of rural roads have been prepared and piloted during project preparation; these emphasize the participation of the poor and vulnerable.

Continued consultation will take place throughout the implementation period, including by using community participatory approaches to finalize road designs, especially with respect to (i) improving road safety, (ii) minimizing environmental impact, and (iii) minimizing construction impact. A grievance redressal mechanism will be set up in all project areas.

Project information will be disclosed to the public through various venues. Project information and will be readily available to civil society. Civil society organizations along the project roads will be engaged as part of community participation in finalizing road design, and will be part of the grievance redressal mechanism.

Local communities (including at least 40% women) will be consulted in the final design of rural access roads, including issues regarding the construction impact, social and environment impact, and road safety.