Announcement of Three Million Fifty Thousand US Dollars for a Highway Improvement and Maintenance Project in Chad on June 13, 1974

Q\'." 1=.1.0,.,., ~ ..... ........ ~,. ..., 0 ~ N-+-t,====:l==.'t. "' Ill 0 7- -. ~ ~ 1,., • INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 1818 H STREET, N.W .. WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 IDA Press Release No. 74/32 Subject: $3.5 million for a highway improvement June 13, 1974 and maintenance project.in Chad A five-year program for improvement and maintenance of feeder roads in support of cotton development in southern Chad will be assisted by a credit of $3.5 million annotmced today by the International Development Association (IDA), an affiliate of the World Bank. The project also provides for training, technical assistance, preinvestment studies and improvement to some water facilities. Chad is a vast and landlocked country whose growth and development since the 1960s has been affected by severe droughts. Bank Group lending supports the Government's development plans for the key sectors -- agriculture, transportation and education. Chad's development potential is in the rural areas, but the cotton-growing regions and • the capital, N'Djamena, are some distance from sea ports so that transport costs are high. The internal transport system is predominantly a simple road network with air and water transport of comparatively minor significance. In addition to the five-year program for improvement and maintenance of about 800 km of feeder roads in the cotton-growing areas, the project also provides for preinvestment studies for improvement of about 120 km of secondary roads co1U1ecting cotton growing areas with the main export routes, a two-year training program, technical assistance for reorganization of the road transport ministry, a two-year traffic count 0 n 2,000 km of the xoost important roads in the country, reconditioning of nine ferry boats and their interim maintenance over a three-year period and a feasibility study for replacement of ferry boats an.d improvement of dock facilities .. The total cost of the project is estimated at about $3.5 million and will be covered by the IDA credit which is being mr.de to the Republic of Chad. The credit is for a tenn c 50 years with 10 years of grace. It is interest free except for 3/4 of 1% per annum to cover IDA's administrative expenses . • - 0 - Note: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents. PROJE·. • TECHNICAL DATA June 13, 1974 Highway improvement and maintenance • ,..., n.1 ,COST: $3. 5 million, net of taxes IDA FINANCING: $3.5 million, 50 years, 10 years of grace, 3/4 of 1% service charge to cover IDA's administrative costs. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATION: The Directorate of Public Works (DPW), Ministere des Travaux Public et de l'Amenagement du Territoire, N'Djamena, Chad, will have overall responsibility for the entire operation. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project consists of: a five-year program for improvement and maintenance of about 800 km of feeder roads in cotton growing areas; preinvestment studies for the improvement of about 120 km of secondary roads connecting cotton growing areas with the main export routes; a two-year training program for DPW staff; technical assistance to the Ministry of Transport for reorganization of the road transport industry; a two-year traffic count on about 2,000 km of the most important and heavily trafficked roads in the country; reconditioning of nine ferry boats and their interim • maintenance over a three year period; and a feasibility study for replace- ment of ferry boats and improvement of dock facilities. PROCUREMENT: Road and ferry boat maintenance equipment will be procured on the basis of international competitive bidding in accordance with IDA guideline~ construction materials, ferry boat maintenance materials, workshop equipment and tools will be procured under procedures consistent with IDA guidelines, provided that with regard to invitations to bid, advertisements may be limited to newspapers of general circulation in Chad. OJNSULTANTS: C.Onsultants will be engaged for preinvest~ent studies for the improvement of about 120 km of secondary roads, for feasibility study on ferry boats replacement and dock improvement and for the training program for DPW ·staff; one expert will be engaged to plan and supervise the feeder road improvement and maintenance program, and another would be assigned to the Ministry· of Transport to study the road transport industry. ~STIMATED OJMPLETION DATE: 1980 • - 0 -