Trans-Hindukush Road Connectivity Project

The objective of the Trans-Hindukush Road Connectivity Project for Afghanistan is to improve road transport connectivity across the Hindukush mountain range. There are two components to the project, the first component being Road construction and rehabilitation. This component will include: (i) civil works for the construction of the Baghlan to Bamiyan (B2B) road and the rehabilitation of the Salang road and tunnel, (ii) consulting services, including for the supervision of civil works and for regular technical audits by an independent international auditor to verify that road works have been executed in compliance with the technical specifications, and (iii) goods, which will include a small number of equipment items which MPW may need to keep the two roads open during the project period. The finalized technical design of the B2B road will include cable ducts and fiber optic cables. Technical specifications for the civil works will include labor intensive choices wherever feasible, such as masonry parapets instead of steel guardrails, and masonry retaining walls. It is estimated that within the total cost of Component, about US$ 170 million will be spent on the Baghlan to Bamiyan road, US$ 55 million will be spent on the Salang road and tunnel, while the remainder of US$ 15 million will be spent on goods and services benefitting both roads. The second component is the institutional support and project management. This component will be comprised of several subcomponents: definition and implementation of asset management arrangements for the trans-Hindukush roads, road safety, community engagement, training, capacity building and institutional development, and project management support.