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ADB lends muscle to Vientiane transport upgrade
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is helping Laos to improve the transport system in Vientiane amid growing traffic congestion and pollution.
The bank and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport yesterday held a workshop to discuss the concept of the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project as a platform for fund mobilisation.
“We have no idea about the possible amount of funding for the project. We are now looking at the size of the project,” ADB Country Director Chong Chi Nai told Vientiane Times prior to opening the workshop in Vientiane yesterday.
The ministry's Planning and International Cooperation Department Director General, Mr Math Sounmala, co-chaired the workshop with Mr Chong Chi Nai. Several transport and urban planning officials attended the one day discussion.
The workshop took place after ADB approved technical assistance for the government in 2009 to develop an urban transport system, aiming to encourage non-motorised and public transport while managing the use of private vehicles.
This assistance aims to help Vientiane provide improved public bus transport in the city's core area of Chanthabouly, Sisattanak, Sikhottabong and Xaysettha districts, strengthen institutions and build capacities, improve parking facilities and pilot a traffic management scheme.
According to a press release from ADB, Vientiane is one of the three pilot cities in Asia to which the bank will provide financial support to develop transport systems so they can deliver environmentally friendly services. The other two cities are Kathmandu in Nepal and Davao in the Philippines.
Existing public transport services in Vientiane have fail ed to meet the needs of the public, so that the number of privately owned cars and motorbikes in the capital has increased dramatically, causing traffic jams and longer co mmute times, the bank says.
Vehicle owners are now finding it increasingly difficult to find parking spaces due to unplanned urbanisation, while the number of traffic accidents, often with fatal consequences, has spiralled.
“Vientiane has the potential to grow and develop strongly and remain a clean, green, and attractive city, retaining its unique character in the region,” Mr Chong Chi Nai said as quoted in the ADB Country Office press release.
“To achieve this goal all stakeholders including the public and private sectors need to work together to develop a sustainable solution.”
ADB is one of the largest development partners of Laos. Laos joined the bank at its foun ding in 1966 and, as of the end of December 2009, has received loans and grants totalling US$1.45 billion, with technical assistance projects amounting to US$122.6 million. The bank has extended development assistance to Laos since 1968 and continues to remain the largest multilateral financier to the country.
Vientiane Times
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