Tajikistan : Preparing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridors 2, 3, and 5 (Obigarm-Nurobod) Road Project

Project Name

Preparing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridors 2, 3, and 5 (Obigarm-Nurobod) Road Project

Project Number

52042-002

Country / Economy

• Tajikistan

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Technical Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

TA 9530-TAJ: Preparing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridors 2, 3, and 5 (Obigarm-Nurobod) Road Project

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 1.00 million

Strategic Agendas

• Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Governance and capacity development
• Knowledge solutions
• Partnerships

Sector / Subsector

• Transport / Road transport (non-urban)

Gender

Effective gender mainstreaming

Description

The transaction technical assistance (TRTA) will help the government of Tajikistan (the government) prepare the proposed ensuing project. The TRTA will ensure that the project will be prepared to acceptable technical, safeguards, and procurement standards. The ensuing project is expected to meet the 'high readiness criteria before possible Board consideration.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The proposed ensuing project will restore and improve connectivity between Dushanbe, the northeast region of Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic via the M41 highway, which is located on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) corridors 2, 3, and 5. The proposed project will also serve about 13 villages and communities that presently rely on the existing M41 highway for access to economic opportunities and social services. In addition, the proposed project will continue strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Transport on road safety and asset management.

The Obigarm-Nurobod road section located on the CAREC corridors 2, 3, and 5 will be inundated once the HPP reservoir has filled to operating levels. The realignment of this road section through the river valley is not part of the Rogun HPP project. A bypass road must be completed and opened to traffic by latest November 2023, the date by which the rising water in the hydropower project reservoir will have inundated several critical sections of the existing M41 highway. No other part of Tajikistan's national highway network can provide for this traffic, and the only alternative route would represent a deviation of about 500 kilometer.

The outcome of the project will be connectivity, access, and safety on CAREC corridors 2, 3, and 5 restored and improved. The project will be aligned with the following impacts: (i) economic growth promoted (Tajikistan National Development Strategy), and (ii) competitive corridors across the CAREC region established (CAREC Program). The project outputs consist of (i) constructing the Obigarm-Nurobod road (CAREC corridors 2, 3, and 5) and rural access road, which is a strategically important international corridor, and (ii) strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Transport on road safety and road asset management, both of which are critical to ensure social and financial sustainability.

Impact

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

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

Geographical Location

Nation-wide

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

Involuntary Resettlement

Indigenous Peoples

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

Extensive consultations will be undertaken with various groups, with focus on the poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups especially women in the 13 villages in the project area, to collect their views and reflect them into the project design, as appropriate.

During Project Implementation

Consultations will be undertaken throughout project implementation period to ensure that stakeholders views are taken into consideration.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

ADB engaged seven international individual consultants and a national consulting firm following ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) to undertake the services required for the TA. They were mobilized in July and September 2018. Two resource person assignments were awarded in April and June 2019.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Idei, Rika

Responsible ADB Department

Central and West Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Transport and Communications Division, CWRD

Executing Agencies

Ministry of Transport

Timetable

Concept Clearance

-

Fact Finding

-

MRM

-

Approval

04 Jun 2018

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

27 Sep 2018

Funding

TA 9530-TAJ