Vietnam PM Approves $400M WB-funded Project to Build 2,174 Small Bridges

The Vietnamese prime minister has approved a $408.93 million project to build 2,174 small bridges in remote areas, with majority of the amount from the World Bank (WB), state media reported. The project is part of a program to build 4,145 small bridges to ensure traffic safety in ethnic areas. The project aims to upgrade 676 kilometers of road and maintain 61,109 km in Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Bac Kan, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Binh Dinh provinces. The project, the biggest road project funded by the WB so far, is scheduled to kick off in 2016 and is slated for completion in 2021. The bank pledged $20.1 billion in soft loans and grants in the 1993-2015 period. Of the sum, $17.32 billion came from the International Development Association (IDA), focusing on transport, urban, agriculture, energy, education, health and policy reforming projects, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. (tuoitre.vn Mar 5, Quan Doi Nhan Dan Mar 7 p1)