The Second Rural Transport Improvement Project (RTIP II) is developing a comprehensive rural roads transport safety framework.
It is also helping for sustainable enhancements to the Local Government Engineering Department’s (LGED) capacities in planning, monitoring, finance, asset management, administration and governance. A recent review of the implementation status of the project, conducted by the World Bank (WB) found that progress has been made in all components of the project, a statement of the WB said on Tuesday.
The Government of RTIP II, supported by the WB, is helping to improve rural roads network in the country side.
RTIP II aims to maintain and improve around 5,250 kilometer of union parishad and upazilla roads in 26 districts. The project will benefit approximately 22 million people living near roads and waterways that will be rehabilitated and maintained.
On maintenance and rehabilitation of roads, 91 contracts out of total 116 contracts for the first year program of Rehabilitation & Periodic Maintenance (RPM) have been signed for a total cost of $18 million. The work is in progress on 73 contracts.
The progress related to hiring of consultants for different components is also satisfactory. The preparation of the second program, including selection of the roads, is currently underway in consultation with the World Bank. For the RPM, some 138 contracts have been identified.
The Government of Bangladesh and the WB have agreed upon and updated the contract awards projections and disbursement targets for the next 12 to 18 months, WB said.
The WB is providing US$ 3,02 million for the project. The financing is in the form of a zero interest credit from the International Development Association (IDA) with 40 years to maturity and a 10-year grace period, including a service charge on disbursed funds of 0.75 per cent.
-With The Independent input
