ADB grants 80 million dollar loan for Afghan road reconstruction

Kabul (dpa) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday granted an 80 million dollar loan for war-torn Afghanistan to improve a key part of the country's infrastructure.

This project will reconstruct the last unpaved section of the national primary ring road, spanning 210 kilometres from Andkhoy to Qaisar in northern Faryab province, according to Afghan Finance Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady.

The project will be an important link in the government's commitment to completing the 2,700 kilometre Afghanistan ring road as quickly as possible, Ahady said.

The project is part of a coordinated international assistance to improve the road connecting the western province of Herat to Andkhoy in northern Afghanistan.

The Afghan government has said the reconstruction national primary roads is one of the country's top priorities.

The project will be implemented by the Afghan ministry for public works and is expected to be completed by 2007. dpa km pw