After implementing almost twelve years, the Decentralized Rural Infrastructure and Livelihood Project-Additional Financing (DRILP-AF) comes to closure to end. The project is the continuation of former DRILP which covers 18 remote hill and mountain districts.

With the total cost of  US$ 66.45 million which include ADB loan of US$ 18 million and grant US$ 7 million, co-financing with OFID loan of US$ 20 million, SDC US$ 7.06 million and Nepal government of  US$13.29 million and benificiers US$1.10,the project has achieved more than 100 percent of physical progress. Approved in 2011, the project is closing on June 30,2017.

“This is one of the successful project which can be replicated in different parts of the country. A total of 1211.0 kilometer district road core network has been maintained against the target of 1200 kilometer.  Twelve annual road maintiance plan are under implementation. We have built 257 trail-bridges with the total lengths of 16382 against the target of 6500 meter,” said project coordinator Tanka Prasad Khanal.” This is one of the successful road project so far implemented in Nepal.”

According to Khanal, 223.5 kilomer of new construction, 105 km upgrading and 105 km upgrading and 152 km finishing works to make the road vehicle pliable initiated by the project. A total of 208 km new road construction,99 km upgrading and 150 km road finishing works have been substantially completed.

Addressing the program, joint secretary at the Ministry of Local Development and Federal Affairs Jeevan Kumar Shrestha said that this is a model project for the road development in Nepal. “The government has now to sanctioned budget to maintain over 700 kilometers road prepared by the proeject,” said Shretha.

Director General of  Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agriculture Roads (DoLIDAR) Ram Krishna Shapkota said that this road has immensely contributed to Nepal’s overall development.”We have constructed over 700 kilometers of road all over the country. This project set also example in completing the work in time,” said Sapkota.

Along with building rural connectivity, the road also helps to improve the livelihood of people enhancing the capacity of over 3000 people mainly omen, poor and excluded communities.

Senior Social Development Officer of Asian Development Bank Laxmi Prasad Subedi said the success achieved by the project is now exemplary in the development projects in Nepal.”As Asian Development Bank is increasing its budget in infrastructure development particularly road, Nepal can benefits from it,” said Subedi.

Aman Jonchhe from Swiss Development Cooperation said that Nepal’s development partners can learn a lot from this project in future on how to conduct the successful project.