Baku to Samur

complete

The proposed project will upgrade and rehabilitate a 60 km section of road, from Sumgait to Zarat, which is located on the main north – south route from Baku to Samur (which is located at the Russian border). The client will be the Road Transport Services Department (RTSD), which forms part of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Transport (MOT). The funds will be used to finance two civil works contract. The project will be implemented through a Project Implementation Unit, which is within the RTSD. The project will assist transition in the roads sector in the following ways: The beneficiary company is the Roads Transport Services Department (RTSD), which is a department of the MOT. It is responsible for the administration, management and execution of the roads programme on a road network which is 18,723 km in total. The EBRD loan amount is USD 100 million. The total project cost is USD 110 million. Based on the findings of an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), carried out by the Bank’s Environmental Specialist, the project was screened B/0 requiring an Environmental Analysis. The environmental impacts associated with the proposed upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing road from Sumgait to Zarat is unlikely to be significant. The road is located in an isolated area, where the terrain is completely flat and the road runs in long straight lines. Consultants have already carried out a partial environmental analysis as part of an overall feasibility study. The key issues that were identified were the protection of water sources, restoration of borrow pits (quarries), road safety measures and the environmental impact related to construction. It also identified a number of "opportunities for positive environmental enhancement", including improvement of road safety, reduction of soil pollution and waste management. A full Environmental Analysis will begin shortly in accordance with the Banks policy and procedures. Assistance to RTSD in the preparation and implementation of a service-level-agreement for the road maintenance units.