| Project Detail |
The proposed knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will help enhance the planning capacity of the road transport sector in Bhutan, through the review of the connectivity of the existing road network and its maintenance plan; development of a master plan for national highways up to 2040; and support to the Department of Roads (DOR) of the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS) in strengthening its planning capacity.
The TA is included in the indicative country pipeline and monitoring report and its objective is identified as one of the three pillars in the country partnership strategy, 2019-2023: improved connectivity to provide access to information and markets.
Project Name Master Plan for National Highways Connectivity
Project Number 56001-001
Country / Economy Bhutan
Project Status Approved
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 6916-BHU: Master Plan for National Highways Connectivity
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 2.00 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Sector / Subsector
Transport / Road transport (non-urban)
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Some gender elements
Description
The proposed knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will help enhance the planning capacity of the road transport sector in Bhutan, through the review of the connectivity of the existing road network and its maintenance plan; development of a master plan for national highways up to 2040; and support to the Department of Roads (DOR) of the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS) in strengthening its planning capacity.
The TA is included in the indicative country pipeline and monitoring report and its objective is identified as one of the three pillars in the country partnership strategy, 2019-2023: improved connectivity to provide access to information and markets.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy
Bhutan is a landlocked nation with a small population of about 756,000 dispersed throughout its mostly mountainous terrain. Formidable geographic and weather conditions make it difficult and expensive to deliver services and to build and maintain vital infrastructure. Road transport is by far the dominant mode of transport, followed by air transport.
The construction in 1968 of the countrys first national road, the Thimphu-Phuentsholing Highway, expedited the expansion of the road network. As of 2020, Bhutans road network has more than 18,000 kilometers (km), comprising primarily farm roads (more than 11,000 km or 61%), followed by national highways (about 2,840 km or 16%) and dzongkhag (district) roads (2,070 km or 11%). As of June 2020, almost 90% of the overall road network in Bhutan is single-lane carriageway. However, only 30% of this is blacktopped or sealed, of which about 80% are national highways and dzongkhag roads.
The country relies heavily on its roads for domestic and international trade. About 95% of freight is transported by road to and from the border crossing points between Bhutan and India. The countrys main border check post is in Phuentsholing and accounts for 76% of the total trade with India.
The sector is mainly guided by the Comprehensive National Development Plan indicated the need to develop an efficient and reliable network to (i) provide alternative routes, (ii) address rural-to-urban migration and promote regionally balanced development, and (iii) reduce travel times for the north-south corridors to 8 hours and for the east-west corridor to 16 hours or less. The current thrusts of the road sector in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan are to (i) improve the road network through consolidation, enhance the national highway grid, and complete the missing road links; (ii) improve national highways using environment-friendly road construction and climate-proof technology; and (iii) reduce travel time with bypass roads and tunneling options. An updated master plan for the national highway network would help the DOR to budget and plan resources to achieve the long-term plan.
Impact Road network connectivity in Bhutan improved
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome Planning and programming of road transport sector managed by the DOR in Bhutan improved
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs
Road maintenance plan up to 2040 developed
Master plan for national highway up to 2040 developed
Planning capacity of the DOR enhanced
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location Nation-wide |
