3.

Overview of the Project Second Rural Transport Improvement Project (RTIP-II)

3.1 Project Objectives

The Project Development Objective (PDO) of RTIP-II is Improved rural accessibility for rural
communities and effective rural infrastructure asset management. Building on the successful outcomes
from the ongoing RTIP-I, RTIP-II will: (a) improve selected Upazila and Union Roads to full LGED
technical standards including critical bridges and cross-drainage structures, with attention to gender
inclusion and road safety issues; (b) rehabilitate, and carry out periodic maintenance on selected
previously improved Upazila and Union roads to bring them back into a condition to be sustained through
subsequent planned maintenance; (c) apply long-term performance-based maintenance contracting
(PBMC) to roads already in good condition to sustain their level of service; and (d) provide improved,
efficient and hygienic trading facilities at selected Growth Centre Markets (GCM). RTIP-II will
strengthen the operation and management of these GCMs targeting market committees and women
selected to operate shops in the Womens Market Sections (WMS). RTIP-II will incorporate a pilot
component to revive rural inland waterway transport using country and engine boats through dredging
using low-cost technologies, navigation safety measures and provision of improved cargo and passenger
landing and handling facilities at selected locations (ghats). All these facilities will be gender inclusive in
planning, construction and operation.

The Project will be implemented over 5 (five) years and in 4 (four) phases. It is determined that
implementation of RTIP-IIs physical components, especially the improvement of Upazila Roads (UZR)
and possibly Union Roads (UNR), will require acquisition of land from private ownership and resumption
of public land from authorized and unauthorized private uses. LGED will apply a consultative and
participatory approach to the selection of sub-projects in order to involve key stakeholder groups,
including those who are socio-economically vulnerable and indigenous peoples, in the decision-making
process and to share in the development benefits.

It is expected that Project improvements of physical infrastructure will help to reduce rural poverty and
stimulate economic development by providing people and communities with improved access to
economic and social services and facilities, to information, and to a more efficient trading network. This
will create opportunities to enhance productivity, employment, incomes and the provision of education
and health care. The Project will generate substantial direct short and longer-term employment for the
poor, including disadvantaged women. The Project will contribute to improving the capability of
vulnerable communities including women to cope with the impacts of flooding and climate change. The
locations of the Projects physical components - roads, markets, rural waterways and ghats - will be
selected to create efficient rural transportation and socio-economic networks and to improve rural-urban
linkages. The project will benefit the population of the target districts through improved communication
and trading network services irrespective of gender and ethnicity.