World Bank

Shillong, July 27 (UNI) World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have decided to provide assistance to five major projects in the North Eastern states under the initiative of the DoNER ministry.

Official sources said today that the ADB projects included the North Eastern State Roads Project (NESRP), North Eastern Urban Development Project (NEUDP) and North Eastern States Trade Investment Creation Initiative Project (NESTICIP).

World Bank has been asked to develop a vision for the development and management of water and related natural resources and environmental issues under the Natural Resources, Water and Environment Nexus for Development and Growth.

Under the NESRP, about 1,300 km of roads would be upgraded, including the construction of 5,500 metres of bridges and 4,700 meters of crossings.

The ADB would also build capacities of State PWDs by introducing computer-based road asset management tools and state-of-the-art project management techniques, sources said.

The NEUDP (Phase I) would aim to improve urban infrastructure in five capital cities, namely Agartala, Aizawl, Gangtok, Kohima and Shillong, while Phase II of the project would cover Guwahati, Imphal, Itanagar and Dibrugarh.

The NESTICIP would aim to develop trade and investment framework that would enable the NE to participate in global and regional markets and to derive considerable gains from specialisation and globalisation, sources said.

Meanwhile, the DoNER ministry also initiated discussions with World Bank on the feasibility of a North East Region Livelihoods Project (NERLP), which would be based on the IFAD-aided North East Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCRMP).

A Preliminary Project Report for NERLP was prepared by the ministry in consultation with the Planning Commission and referred to World Bank, which agreed to assist in its implementation.

UNI