The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors recently approved a financing package of USD 150 million for Nepal. According to a statement issued by the World Bank on March 28, the fund will be utilized for the Third Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Program (BIMP-III) and is expected to help strengthen the resilience of bridges under the Strategic Road Network, ensuring safer and uninterrupted connectivity across the country’s diverse and challenging terrain.    

The World Bank noted that Nepal’s bridges serve as critical lifelines, linking remote and urban communities to essential services such as healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. However, frequent climate-induced disasters—including floods, landslides, and earthquakes—pose significant risks to this infrastructure, added the statement.

The program, led by Nepal’s Department of Roads, will implement climate-resilient measures, including enhanced structural designs, innovative technologies, and real-time monitoring systems to protect bridges from extreme weather events. It will also emphasize inclusive bridge designs to improve accessibility for marginalized communities, the World Bank said in the press statement.

David Sislen, the World Bank’s Country Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, emphasized that strengthening Nepal’s bridge network is key to ensuring safe and sustained connectivity. He stated that the program aligns with Nepal’s goals of resilient infrastructure development, improved market access, and sustainable growth.

“The resilience of Nepal’s bridge network is fundamental for safe and sustained connectivity,” the statement quoted Sislen as saying.

“This program emphasizes resilient infrastructure development and promoting access to markets and services for vulnerable communities while promoting Nepal’s sustainable growth.”

Additionally, the program includes capacity-building initiatives for the Department of Roads, promoting innovative solutions and strengthening institutional systems for effective infrastructure management, added the World Bank.