World Bank funding for Nepalese Bridge

Nepal’s Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport has inaugurated a programme for bridge upgrades and maintenance across the country. This is being funded by the 2332 World Bank while the programme will also benefit from new bridge management software developed by the department of roads. This software will be able to locate the type of bridge, location, date of completion, span, crossing, load capacity, condition and load restriction. The World Bank has provided a grant assistance of US$147.6 million for this programme of bridge upgrades and maintenance work. The work will help improve Nepal’s connectivity and the programme will include the 95 bridges under construction, 26 new structures and 98 bridges requiring major maintenance. The programme will also cover 230 bridges requiring minor maintenance work and a further 95 needing light maintenance. Some 40% of the total allocated budget will be spent for the maintenance work and 55% for new construction while 5% will be for administrative maintenance. “Connecting people with the road network can only develop a nation’s economy growth and prosperity,” said Karla Gonzalez Carvajal, Sector Manager, Transport, South Asia Region, of the World Bank.