Second Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Program

closed

The development objective of the Second Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Program for Nepal is to provide safe, resilient, and cost‐effective bridges on Nepal’s Strategic Roads Network. The proposed operation is designed as a ‘hybrid’ operation, which includes both Program‐for‐Results (PforR) and Investment Project Financing (IPF) components.Developing and/or maintaining bridge infrastructure in the Strategic Roads Network under the Bridge Branch, as set forth in the Bridge Policy and Strategy, including: (a) providing road safety upgrades on existing bridges; (b) constructing new bridges; (c) completing bridges under construction; (d) major bridge maintenance; and (e) carrying out bridge designs, site assessments, feasibility studies, quality monitoring,environmental and social impact management, and providing logistics support, for the Program, as required for the preparation and supervision of civil works.This IPF Component: Consultancy Support and Institutional Development will support the following: (a) provision of consultancy support and institutional development to the Recipient to prepare Potential Future Projects within the Strategic Roads Network, such as, including but not limited to, preparation of baseline assessments, engineering studies, feasibility studies, safeguard assessments and technical designs; (b) carrying out technical audits through the National Vigilance Center, identifying instances where implementation of works deviates from expected technical and process‐related standards or specifications; (c) developing advanced bridge designs to: (i) enhance resilience to extreme weather or seismic events; and (ii) include pedestrians’ and cyclists’ access; (d) Provision of Training to develop the DOR staff and other stakeholders’ technical, social, environmental and fiduciary capabilities; (e) strengthening the institutional capacity of the Bridge Branch for the carrying out of supervision and oversight activities on the Strategic Roads Network under the Operation; (f) mobilizing, equipping and developing the Design and Advanced Technology Cell; (g) improving DOR’s occupational and community health and safety practices and its capacity to implement the Labor Act; (h) verification activities support. (i) collecting data for the impact evaluation of the Program.