The new project will contribute to the reduction of transport costs and travel time along the Osh-Batken-Isfana Road corridor, allow more direct travel between destinations for road users, creating a more accessible, reliable and safe transport system as a result.

“The National Road Rehabilitation Project is one of the priority infrastructure investments identified in the Government’s Country Development Strategy for 2009-2011,” noted World Bank Country Manager Roger J. Robinson. “The investment, once implemented will open up the only land transport connection between the main Kyrgyz cities in Fergana Valley and the rest of the country. About one million inhabitants or 18 percent of the country’s population will benefit.”

This project will finance the rehabilitation of about 30 kilometers of a section of the Osh-Batken-Isfana road, one of the six strategic corridors in the Kyrgyz Republic. The original alignment of this road corridor crosses through Uzbek territory at Kok-Talaa, and at Sokh and through Tajikistan at Vorukh.

Traveling this road was no problem in the past when there was one transport network connecting cities from within the Former Soviet Union and the Fergana Valley. However, since 1991, the to travel the same route it requires frequent delays at border crossings, which hampers connectivity along the road. Existing secondary roads deviate around 110 kilometers from the original alignment (so-called ’detours’), however, they are in poor condition. This project will help the Government to rehabilitate the detours and link them with the original alignment.

The National Road Rehabilitation (Osh-Batken-Isfana) Project will be implemented within three years by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The World Bank’s overall mission in Kyrgyzstan is to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and encourage a better quality of life. The Kyrgyz Republic borrows from the World Bank on highly concessional terms - no interest, and only a 0.75% service charge. Credits are repayable in 40 years, including a 10-year grace period, while grants require no repayment. The financial assistance committed to the Kyrgyz Republic so far amounts to over US$857 million, in the form of grants and highly concessional credits.