active· child-protection

South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Mugling-Pokhara Highway Improvement Phase 1 Project

The project road is the primary access link of Pokhara to Kathmandu and is a major feeder road of two SASEC corridors linking Kathmandu to Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Kolkata (India) through Mugling and the East-West Highway. It is a two-lane carriageway that handles about 7,400 vehicles per day, including 14% of goods vehicles and up to 55% of motorcycles in urban areas. Traffic is forecast to increase to 13,000 vehicles per day by 2040, and the rising number of motorcycles creates significant road safety risks, notably as (i) the road winds through the mid-hill region of Nepal and its geometry can be improved, (ii) slow-moving vehicles and pedestrians are not segregated in urban areas, and (iii) the pavement is in poor condition. The road will be widened to four lanes to cater to increasing demand, and design standards will feature enhanced geometry, pavement, structure, drainage, safety, and intelligent traffic system features to improve sustainability, safety awareness, and safety compliance. The road will be median divided, and service lanes in urban areas will improve safety, particularly for women and children, who are more likely to walk, ride a bicycle, or use public transport than men.