Armenia : Armenia-Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor-Bagratashen) Improvement Project
The proposed project will improve a strategic regional link between Armenia (Vanadzor) and Georgia Border (Bagratashen), one of the most heavily traveled roads for internal and external trade. It will rehabilitate and upgrade 51.5 kilometers (km) of the two-lane M6 highway from Vanadzor to the border with Georgia at Bagratashen, improve facilities and safety along and in the vicinity of this road section in northern Armenia, strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies (MTCIT).
Project Details
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Project Officer
Naqvi, Zaigham Ali Akbar
Sectors Group
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Armenia -
Modality
-
Sector
- Transport
| Project Name | Armenia-Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor-Bagratashen) Improvement Project | ||||||||
| Project Number | 49244-002 | ||||||||
| Country / Economy | Armenia |
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| Project Status | Active | ||||||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Loan |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Strategic Agendas | Environmentally sustainable growth Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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| Drivers of Change | Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships Private sector development |
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| Sector / Subsector | Transport / Road transport (non-urban) |
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| Gender | No gender elements | ||||||||
| Description | The proposed project will improve a strategic regional link between Armenia (Vanadzor) and Georgia Border (Bagratashen), one of the most heavily traveled roads for internal and external trade. It will rehabilitate and upgrade 51.5 kilometers (km) of the two-lane M6 highway from Vanadzor to the border with Georgia at Bagratashen, improve facilities and safety along and in the vicinity of this road section in northern Armenia, strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies (MTCIT). | ||||||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | Armenia's economy relies heavily on trade with neighboring countries through one border crossing with Iran at Meghri and two major border crossings with Georgia at Bavra and Bagratashen. Bavra is at the north end of the ongoing North-South Road Corridor Investment Program financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB). The North-South road corridor will mainly serve cross-border freight traffic to western Georgia and the Black Sea ports. Bagratashen is connected to the country's national network via the two-lane M6 highway, which will be upgraded by the proposed project. The M6 is a vital link connecting Armenia with Georgia and beyond. It is the shortest link between the respective capitals, Yerevan in Armenia and Tbilisi in Georgia. In 2014, the Bagratashen border crossing point handled 0.85 million tons of import and export freight, representing 49% of the total import freight tonnage and goods by road. Several international financial institutions are working jointly to improve border crossing efficiency and develop integrated border management systems in Armenia, including improvements at Bagratashen. The project is crucial to the country's trade and economy, and will be indispensable in the long term. | ||||||||
| Impact | Accelerated deterioration of the road network prevented; and safe, quick, and easy transportation ensured. |
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| Project Outcome | |
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| Description of Outcome | Transport efficiency and safety along the VanadzorBagratashen section of the M6 improved. |
| Progress Toward Outcome | Civil works contracts awarded in November 2017 and advance payments paid in December 2017. Contract for design review and civil works technical supervision consultant was awarded on 03 April 2018. |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Road in M6 VanadzorBagratashen section totaling 51.5 km (Km 38+500Km 90+000) reconstructed Institutional capacity of MOTC strengthened |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | Civil works contracts awarded in November 2017. As of October 2021, the overall physical progress of the project is 67.2%, and the financial progress is 63.2%. Recruitment of consultants for the institutional development component of the loan has commenced and the training workshops are planned in Q4 2021 and Q1 2022. |
| Geographical Location | Alaverdi, Bagratashen, Vanadzor |
| Safeguard Categories | |
|---|---|
| Environment | B |
| Involuntary Resettlement | A |
| Indigenous Peoples | C |
| Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects | |
|---|---|
| Environmental Aspects | According to ADB's Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS), 2009, the project for the ADB-financed section is classified as category B for environment. Mitigation measures to address all construction and operational impacts have been included in the environmental management plan (EMP) prepared as part of the initial environmental examination (IEE) for the ADB-financed road section. The EMP has been included in the bidding document. The Road Department Fund is responsible for implementation of all safeguards requirements. |
| Involuntary Resettlement | The project for ADB-financed section has been updated from category B to category A for the Involuntary Resettlement. MTAI prepared and implemented land acquisition and resettlement plan (LARP) prior to commencement of the civil works. In addition to the main LARP, three Correction Action Plans (CAPs) have been prepared and implemented prior to the civil works in the relevant sections to address the design adjustments encountered during implementation. The 4th CAP is under preparation to address the revised design of Odzun junction. |
| Indigenous Peoples | IP for the proposed project is categorized C. |
| Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation | |
| During Project Design | Stakeholders' participation in meetings during project design is encouraged. |
| During Project Implementation | Public consultations with relevant NGOs and local residents will be held regularly to ensure greater participation and information sharing. |
| Business Opportunities | |
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| Consulting Services | All consulting services to be financed by the loan will be recruited following ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time). |
| Procurement | All works to be financed by the loan will be procured following ADB's Procurement Guidelines (2015, as amended from time to time). |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Naqvi, Zaigham Ali Akbar |
| Responsible ADB Department | Sectors Group |
| Responsible ADB Division | Transport Sector Office (SG-TRA) |
| Executing Agencies |
Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 30 Mar 2016 |
| Fact Finding | 15 Feb 2016 to 26 Feb 2016 |
| MRM | 29 Jul 2016 |
| Approval | 28 Oct 2016 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 02 Nov 2021 |
Loan 3449-ARM
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 28 Oct 2016 | 09 Nov 2016 | 24 Apr 2017 | 31 May 2021 | 31 Dec 2023 | - |
| Financing Plan | Loan Utilization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total (Amount in US$ million) | Date | ADB | Others | Net Percentage | |
| Project Cost | 62.00 | Cumulative Contract Awards | |||
| ADB | 50.00 | 21 Nov 2023 | 40.83 | 0.00 | 89% |
| Counterpart | 12.00 | Cumulative Disbursements | |||
| Cofinancing | 0.00 | 21 Nov 2023 | 39.46 | 0.00 | 86% |
| Status of Covenants | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sector | Safeguards | Social | Financial | Economic | Others |
| Rating | 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.
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.
ADB to Help Improve Strategic Road Connection on Armenia-Georgia Border
ADB has approved a $50 million loan to improve the transport efficiency and safety of the M6 Highway from Vanadzor in Armenia to the border with Georgia at Bagratashen, one of the most strategic roads for internal and external trade.
Tenders
| Tender Title | Type | Status | Posting Date | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADB/M6/CS/QCBS/03 | Firm - Consulting | Closed | ||
| ADB/M6/ CS/IC/05-4 | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Training on Roads Assets Management | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Training on Project Scheduling and Management | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Training on Procurement and Contract Administration | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| External Monitoring Individual Consultant for the Verification of the Completion Reports of the Resettlement Plan and 2 Corrective Action Plans implementation of ADB financed road section 2 of M6 | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| Social Field Work Coordinator | Individual - Consulting | Closed | ||
| ADVISORY SERVICES FOR AUDIT | Firm - Consulting | Closed | ||
| ARM: Armenia?Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor?Bagratashen) Improvement Project | Advance Notice | Archived |
Contracts Awarded
| Contract Title | Approval Number | Contract Date | Contractor | Address | Executing Agency | Total Contract Amount (US$) | Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation of Detailed Designs for Rehabilitation of Dilijan Tunnel and Pushkin Tunnel, Environmental Evaluation/Assessment Documentation and Technical Part of Bidding Documents for Civil Works Procurement | Loan 3449 | 05 Jul 2023 | BERNARD Gruppe ZT GmbH | Gilmstrasse 1, Innsbruck 6020, Austria | Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure | 1,073,041.82 | 1,073,041.82 |
| CONSULTING SERVICES ON DESIGN CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS | Loan 3449 | 16 Aug 2019 | ARTSAKHROAD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC) | 24 BUILDING 1ST BLIND ALLEY, ACHARYAN ST YEREVAN, REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ARMENIA, REPUBLIC OF | Ministry of Transport, Communication & Info Tech | 119,704.70 | 99,682.71 |
| DESIGN REVIEW & CIVIL WORKS TECHL SUPERVN OF REHAB & IMPROVEMENT OF THE M6 VANADZOR-ALAVERDI-GEORGIAN BORDER INTERSTATE ROAD (KM38 450-KM90 191) | Loan 3449 | 25 Apr 2018 | SAFEGE SAS AND HILL INTERNATIONAL N.V. JV | 15-27 RUE DU PORT, PARC DE L'ILE F-920022 NANTERRE CEDEX, FRANCE FRANCE | Ministry of Transport, Communication & Info Tech | 3,365,500.00 | 3,365,500.00 |
| LOT 1: CIVIL WORKS FOR REHAB/RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EXISTING M6 VANADZOR-ALAVERDI-GEORGIAN BORDER INTERSTATE ROAD (SECTION KM38 450-KM48 140) | Loan 3449 | 12 Dec 2017 | JV HORIZON-95 LLC & OBEROSLER CAV PIETROS SRL | 26 AMIRYAN STR., YEREVAN ARMENIA, REPUBLIC OF | Ministry of Transport, Communication & Info Tech | 10,078,298.00 | 8,424,930.00 |
| LOT 2: CIVIL WORKS FOR REHAB/RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EXISTING M6 VANADZOR-ALAVERDI-GEORGIAN BORDER INTERSTATE ROAD (SECTION KM48 140-KM62 300) | Loan 3449 | 12 Dec 2017 | JV BLACK SEA GROUP AND AAB PROJECT | 39/1A ARABKIR STR., YEREVAN ARMENIA, REPUBLIC OF | Ministry of Transport, Communication & Info Tech | 5,938,298.00 | 4,949,847.00 |
| LOT 3: CIVIL WORKS FOR REHAB/RECONSTRUCTION OF THE EXISTING M6 VANADZOR-ALAVERDI-GEORGIAN BORDER INTERSTATE ROAD (SECTION KM62 300-KM90 191) | Loan 3449 | 12 Dec 2017 | SUARDI JSC | 66 SARNICO STR., PREDORE (BG) ITALY | Ministry of Transport, Communication & Info Tech | 9,752,415.00 | 8,146,336.00 |
| SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS SUPPORT | Loan 3449 | 15 Sep 2017 | ALTA VIP LLC | 16 YEKMALYAN 1ST STR AREA 41, 0002, YEREVAN ARMENIA, REPUBLIC OF | Ministry of Transport, Communication & Info Tech | 345,847.00 | 344,635.00 |
Procurement Plan
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Armenia-Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor-Bagratashen) Improvement Project: Procurement Plan | Procurement Plans | Mar 2019 |