Western Economic Corridor and Regional Enhancement Program

The objective of the First Phase of Western Economic Corridor and Regional Enhancement Program for Bangladesh is to provide efficient, safe, and resilient connectivity along a regional transport corridor in western Bangladesh; and promote local economic development in the hinterland of the corridor. The project has five components. 1. Upgrading the National Highway Corridor and Enhancing Digital Connectivity component will be implemented by Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and support the following: (a) Upgrading the Section from a two-lane single carriageway to a climate-resilient four-lane dual carriage way with a service lane on each side; (b) (i) supporting the design of a climate-resilient optical fiber cable (OFC) system and intelligent transport system (ITS) for the Program Corridor; and (ii) supporting the installation, and operations and maintenance of the climate-resilient OFC system and the ITS; (c) (i) supporting the design of a pilot safe corridor demonstration program (SCDP) for the Section; and (ii) supporting the implementation of the SCDP along the Section; (d) supporting studies, assessments, surveys, and data collection in relation to, inter alia, the feasibility, design, supervision, and technical aspects of the activities listed in (a) to (c) above, with respect to the Program Corridor or Section, as applicable. 2. Upgrading Secondary and Tertiary Roads; and Complementary Logistics Infrastructure and Services component will be implemented by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and support the following: (a) Supporting, in the Project Districts: (i) the development and upgrading of complementary logistics infrastructure; and (ii) the provision of relevant services; and (b) Upgrading around 600 kilometers of selected priority village roads, Upazila roads and Union roads, serving selected markets in the Project Districts, to all weather climate-resilient roads. 3. Project Implementation Support and Sustainability component will be...