JICA, DCDA sign road-building protocol

KABUL): The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Dehsabz-Barikab City Development Authority (DCDA) signed the first stage of a 12 kilometre road.

As part of the promotion of Kabul Metropolitan Area (KMC) development, this pilot project will construct the selected sections of the arterial and secondary arterial roads in phase one of Kabul New City.

Through this pilot project, JICA will initially gravel the first stage that includes city roads, symbol roads, gateway roads, and circle roads at a cost of approximately id=”mce_marker”4 million.

Zadran, chief finance officer of the DCDA, said: “The signing of this protocol is good news for the people of Afghanistan, because this is one of the inaugural projects of KNC, and with the construction of these road, the development of 6400 housing units will also begin…”

Zadran added: “With the signing of this protocol, on the one hand, JICA renewed its commitments to helping the KNC, and on the other hand, JICA asks for certain preconditions such as expropriation of land to be undertaken by the government of Afghanistan…” 

In addition, he explained, the process of expropriation of private lands by the government was one of the preconditions of JICA.  On the issue, the DCDA has held talks with ministries concerned and stakeholders.

Iwama, the program director of JICA for KMA development, promised continued support for KNC development. However, he explained: “The assistance we provide to KNC is subject to serious efforts put forward by the GoA to meet the preconditions and ensure JICA accordingly.”

The DCDA, as the owner of the Parcel-1 development, will act as the facilitator of this “Pilot Project” and secure the land required for its implementation, provide comments on drawings prepared by the contractor for implementation, and monitor the works during the construction period.

JICA, as the owner of the pilot project, is responsible for planning, designing, tendering and implementation. It will conduct the “First Stage of the Pilot Project” and procure a contractor to implement the Pilot Project in accordance with JICA’s procurement guidelines.

It will inform the DCDA about procurement progress, make payments for all necessary expenses to the contractor based on the contract, hand over the facility to the DCDA after the completion of each stage, conduct defect liability inspections and arrange regular meetings with the DCDA to review work progress.

pr/mud

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