2024.05.21
On May 20, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement with the Royal Government of Bhutan in Thimphu, to provide grant aid of up to 1,634 million yen for the Project for Reconstruction of Bridges on Primary National Highway No. 1 in Mongar District.
In the Kingdom of Bhutan, the majority of land is steep mountainous terrain, and there is no alternative arterial road to its east-west Primary National Highway No. 1 (PNH 1). Consequently, the maintenance and fortification of this route, including bridges, is crucial for both the smooth day-to-day transportation of goods and the evacuation of patients during medical emergencies.
Signing ceremony
The Namling and Durdari bridges, located on PNH 1 of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan, have collapsed in the past and are currently functioning with temporary bridges, making swift replacement with permanent structures imperative. However, due to their precipitous mountain location, the installation of permanent bridges requires advanced technical expertise and rich experience given its topographical conditions in Bhutan.
This project aims to improve the convenience and sustainability of Bhutan’s arterial road network through the replacement of these two bridges, prioritized in terms of construction difficulty and disaster risk. The project seeks to enhance logistics, secure smoother and safer traffic, improve accessibility to social services such as healthcare, and contribute to the stability and development of sustainable socioeconomic growth in the area. This project will contribute to the achievement of SDGs Goals 3 (Good health and well-being), 8 (Decent work and economic growth), and 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure).
Details for the project are provided below.
| Country | Kingdom of Bhutan |
|---|---|
| Project title | the Project for Reconstruction of Bridges on Primary National Highway No. 1 in Mongar District |
| Maximum grant amount | 1,634 million yen |
| Planned implementation period | 58 months, including detailed design work and the bidding period |
| Executing agency |
Department of Surface Transport, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport |
| Target region | Mongar District |
| Specific project details (provisional) |
① Facility improvements Reconstruction of two bridges, construction of an access road, slope stabilization around the bridges Namling Bridge: 44m long, 327.7m access road, 160m slope stabilization extension Durdari Bridge: 34.5m long, 359.1m access road, 95m slope stabilization extension ② Consulting services Detailed design work, bidding assistance, construction and procurement supervision |
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