Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.22
By Azad Hasanli - Trend:
Mission led by the head of the project team of the World Bank, Elizabeth Wang arrives in Baku Sept. 23 in order to continue preparatory work on the Regional Road project, on the implementation of which the bank plans to allocate up to $250 million, Baku office of the World Bank told Trend Sept.22.
The mission arrives in Baku for talks with key partners within the framework of the project preparation, according to the source. Her visit will last until Oct. 3.
Preparation of the project is planned to be completed by the end of 2014, said the office of the bank. Its approval by the Board of Directors of the bank is expected during the current fiscal year, which ends for the World Bank June 30, 2015.
The representative noted that the implementation of the project is scheduled for 4 years.
The mission led by the head of road projects in the country Jacques Bure, which conducted the evaluation of the Regional roads project, has already visited Baku Sept. 10-18.
In accordance with the concept, the total cost of the project is $368.33 million, some $250 million of which will be allocated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, part of the WB).
These funds will be used for the reconstruction of two regional road sections and the adjoining local roads with a total length of up to 100 kilometers.
Shirvan - Nokhudlu - Salyan (41 kilometers) and Salyan - Nefchala (43 kilometers) are the two main sites that credit resources will be allocated to for reconstruction. Consultations on technical supervision will also be considered within the frame of the project.
Azerbaijan has been a member of the World Bank since 1992. Total liabilities of the bank to the country have amounted to over $3 billion on 54 projects during this period. About $1.7 billion was allocated for the implementation of road-transport projects. The largest loan worth $670 million was allocated for improvement of the railway infrastructure and in particular, the reconstruction of the track on the Baku-Boyuk Kesik border with Georgia section.
The World Bank also finances the modernization and rehabilitation of road sections of the existing East-West and North-South corridors, namely the Alat-Masalli third highway, rehabilitation of the Kurdamir-Ujar section of the Baku-Georgian border highway, rehabilitation of the Baku- Shamakhi road, reconstruction of the road from Tagiyev settlement to the Sahil settlement bypassing Baku, Hajigabul-Bahramtepe road and expansion of the Baku-Shamakhi/Muganli highway.