India : Chhattisgarh Road Connectivity Project

Project Name

Chhattisgarh Road Connectivity Project

Project Number

52002-001

Country / Economy

• India

Project Status

Active

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Loan

Source of Funding / Amount

Loan 3795-IND: Chhattisgarh Road Connectivity Project

Source	Amount
Ordinary capital resources	US$ 350.00 million

Strategic Agendas

• Environmentally sustainable growth
• Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Private sector development

Sector / Subsector

• Transport / Road transport (non-urban)

Gender

Some gender elements

Description

The project will rehabilitate and upgrade at least 850 kilometers (km) of state highways and major district roads in Chhattisgarh to improve connectivity and access to basic services and livelihood opportunities. The physical works will involve upgrading the state highways and major district roads to two-lane or four-lane width with hard shoulder along built-up areas. For investment in the physical infrastructure to be efficient and sustainable, the project will provide support to the executing agency in road maintenance and safety.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The state government of Chhattisgarh has recognized the imbalanced distribution of socioeconomic benefits and poor access to livelihood opportunities in the state. Improving transport connectivity is an important factor in addressing these issues. The state lacks an adequate road network to efficiently support the required mobility across areas with natural resources, social services, industrial centers, and economic development zones. As of FY2016, road density in Chhattisgarh was only 72.1 km per 100 square km, which is below the national average of 139.1 km per 100 square km. About 70% of the state highways have only single or intermediate lanes, whereas most of the major and other district roads are single lanes. In contrast, the number of registered vehicles has doubled, from 2.1 million in 2009 to 4.8 million in 2016, with an average growth rate of 12%. Most of these roads need widening and strengthening to cater to the increasing traffic demand, especially larger goods vehicles. The project will continue ADB's assistance in the road transport subsector in Chhattisgarh, and is consistent with the strategic objectives set out in the country partnership strategy on the provision of inclusive infrastructure networks and services.

Impact

Mobility and accessibility in India improved

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Road connectivity and safety in Chhattisgarh improved

Progress Toward Outcome

Indicators will be assessed upon completion of the project.

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

State highways and major district roads improved

Institutional capacity for road safety and maintenance of state highways and major district roads strengthened

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

The Loan encompasses 25 Civil works packages (23 Major District Roads and 2 State

Highways) along with 3 Construction Supervision Consultants (CSCs) and 1 Project Management Consultant (PMC). All civil works packages with the exception of Package no. 2 have been awarded. The physical progress for the projects range from 20% to 90%. All the consultants are also mobilized.

Geographical Location

Chhattisgarh Region

Safeguard Categories

Environment

B

Involuntary Resettlement

A

Indigenous Peoples

B

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

No significant, irreversible environmental impacts are anticipated and none of the roads are located inside or near protected or environmentally sensitive areas. The CGPWD prepared an initial environmental examination (IEE) for each road in accordance with the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) and disclosed these on the ADB website. Anticipated environmental impacts from the project entail typical road construction related issues such as acquisition of forest land; removal of trees; generation of dust, noise, exhaust, and waste from construction and worker camps; water contamination; occupational health and safety issues; slope failures; erosion; and siltation. Increased noise and air pollution as a result of increased traffic volumes can be expected during the operation stage but will be minimal, and based on projections, are not expected to go beyond the National Ambient Air Quality and International Finance Corporation standards. Mitigation measures to address all these have been included in the environmental management plan (EMP), which is part of the bid documents and will be required to be implemented by the contractor. The CGPWD conducted meaningful consultations with the affected persons and other key stakeholders such as the forestry officials while preparing the IEE. Concerns of affected persons and stakeholders will continue to be addressed during project implementation through the grievance redress mechanism proposed in the IEE.

Involuntary Resettlement

The project is classified as category "A" for involuntary resettlement, in accordance with ADB's Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS), 2009. The overall project scope includes the rehabilitation and up-gradation of two state highways and 23 major district roads from single or intermediate lane width to two or four-lane width with the hard shoulder in built-up areas. The project was developed to avoid or minimize the land acquisition and restriction of access by adopting the most feasible technical design. The Chhattisgarh Public works department (CGPWD) prepared 25 resettlement plans and resettlement and Indigenous People Plans to comply with the ADB's Safeguard requirements. The project will impact the land, structures, and livelihood of titled and nontiled households. The households will be entitled to compensation for the loss of land, structures, and other assets at replacement cost, and resettlement assistance as per the agreed entitlements detailed in resettlement plans. The CGPWD conducted meaningful consultations with displaced persons and disclosed information through the ADB website. Grievance redress mechanisms have been established at each field office to respond to affected persons concerns. The CGPWD has worked with ADB in the previous projects and is experienced in planning and implementing involuntary resettlement safeguards. Resettlement specialists and officers, an external monitor, third-party validators, and an implementation non-government organization are on board to support the CGPWD in implementing the safeguards requirements.

Indigenous Peoples

The project is classified as category "C" for indigenous peoples, in accordance with ADB's Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS), 2009. The social impact assessments are undertaken to prepare project roads to suggest that road connectivity will not impact scheduled tribes differently or increase their vulnerability as indigenous peoples. However, the assessments indicate that in eight project roads, scheduled tribe households potentially to be affected by limited involuntary resettlement impacts. The CGPWD has prepared resettlement and indigenous peoples plans. Meaningful consultations were conducted with affected scheduled tribe households to (i) seek their views on the project and its benefits; (ii) determine involuntary resettlement impacts; and (iii) develop appropriate measures to mitigate losses, including additional allowances provided under the law.

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

The stakeholders have been consulted during design stage.

During Project Implementation

Consultation as required, will be carried out during project implementation.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

The CGPWD has engaged three construction supervision consultants (CSCs) which will act as the engineers for the civil works contracts. The CGPWD has also engaged a project management consultant (PMC) to support the project implementation unit in general project management, procurement, safeguard monitoring, road safety and road maintenance. The CSC is under international recruitment, whereas the PMC is under national recruitment. The consultant selection followed quality- and cost-based selection method, with a quality and cost ratio of 80:20. Procurement (including consulting services) to be financed by ADB will follow ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time).

Procurement

The procurement of civil works financed by ADB loan will be done in accordance with ADB's Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time). The procurement of civil works will follow open competitive bidding with national advertisement using an e-procurement system approved by ADB. The project implementation unit has gained experience in the procurement of civil works and consultant recruitment from the previous ADB projects. 20 civil works packages have been awarded and procurement of 5 civil works packages are ongoing.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Jawed, Mohd

Responsible ADB Department

Sectors Group

Responsible ADB Division

Transport Sector Office (SG-TRA)

Executing Agencies

Public Works Department-Govt of Chhattisgarh

Timetable

Concept Clearance

11 Sep 2018

Fact Finding

22 Oct 2018 to 31 Oct 2018

MRM

30 Jan 2019

Approval

31 May 2019

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

01 Jul 2022

Funding

Loan 3795-IND