World Bank finance for urban transport plan

The World Bank on Tuesday approved a US $22 million credit for an urban transport project in the Kyrgyz Republic that aims to provide sustainable, reliable and affordable transportation for people in the cities of Bishek, Osh and Jalalabad. “The project will restore selected urban roads to acceptable standards and take the first steps towards developing a reliable source of financing for urban roads maintenance and rehabilitation,” a World Bank press release stated. The total cost of the project is US $24.22 million, of which the Government of Kyrgyzstan is to contribute US $2.22 million, it added. The rehabilitation and maintenance of priority sections of urban streets in the three cities would vary from complete reconstruction to asphalt overlays to surface treatments, and include minor drainage improvements, according to the Bank statement. The project would also include training for the Ministry of Transport and Communications for engineering design and construction supervision, a municipal road finance study and an urban transport action plan for Bishek, it said.