ARMENIA EXPECTS TO GET $30 MILLION FROM ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK FOR RURAL ROAD REHABILITATION

Armenpress
Nov 29 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: The Asian Development Bank has
pledged today expertise assistance to Armenian authorities to help them
to prepare a program for rehabilitation of rural roads. A memorandum
to that end was signed today in Yerevan.

The government of Armenia hopes to receive a $30 million credit
from the bank next year for major repair of about 260 km long rural
roads. This project is expected to be launched in 2008.

Transport and communication minister Andranik Margarian said it was a
good program, adding the ultimate goal was to rehabilitate and build
good roads for all communities across the country.

Manukian said also that some 1,200 km long of rural roads will be
repaired on funds Armenia expects to receive as extra aid from the
U.S.-government funded Millennium Challenges Corporation.

Armenia’s overall road network is 7,700 km. Some 1,560 km are road
linking Armenian provinces with each other, 1,980 km roads link
regional centers and 4,320 km are rural roads.

Experts estimate that 61 percent of rural roads are in a very poor
state and only 11 percent are in good condition.