The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) Additional Financing Appraisal Environmental and Social Review Summary Appraisal Stage (AF ESRS Appraisal Stage) Public Disclosure Date Prepared/Updated: 03/13/2025 | Report No: ESRSAFA993 Mar 19, 2025 Page 1 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Operation Data Operation ID Product Operation Acronym Approval Fiscal Year P170409 Investment Project Financing (IPF) Strategic Road and Trade 2020 Improvement Operation Name Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity and Trade Improvement Project Country/Region Code Beneficiary country/countries Region Practice Area (Lead) (borrower, recipient) Nepal Nepal SOUTH ASIA Transport Borrower(s) Implementing Agency(ies) Estimated Appraisal Date Estimated Board Date Nepal Ministry of Industry, Commerce and 14-Feb-2025 27-Mar-2025 Supplies, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Public Disclosure Estimated Decision Total Project Cost Review Date 07-Feb-2025 596,700,000.00 Proposed Development Objective To improve the efficiency and safety of select transport infrastructure, improve the efficiency of cross-border trade, and strengthen capacity for Strategic Road Network management in Nepal. B. Is the operation being prepared in a Situation of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints, as per Bank IPF Policy, para. 12? No C. Summary Description of Proposed Project Activities This Project seeks to support Government of Nepal in improving its capacity and efficiency of trade and transport infrastructure and strengthening the institutions managing them. Specifically, the Project will support (a) trade facilitation, through augmenting infrastructure for transit management at key border crossing points, improvement of sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) management, and knowledge and capacity building support for improving management of trade; (b) regional connectivity improvement, through capacity augmentation in two roads within two Mar 19, 2025 Page 2 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) critical corridors for trade and a safe corridor demonstration program; and (c) institutional strengthening of the National Road Safety Council and the Department of Roads, through inter alia developing and mainstreaming and road asset management, training and periodic maintenance of high traffic highways within the Strategic Road Network. Through these activities, the Project will also pilot or demonstrate ways to address four critical challenges plaguing the road sector, viz., sustainability, efficiency, climate impacts and road safety. The proposed interventions together are envisaged to enhance transport and trade connectivity of land-locked Nepal with and via its neighbours in the region, and in particular, improve the efficiency of goods transit between Nepal and India through reducing time and costs and also make it more safe and resilient. This Project contributes to increasing trade within the eastern sub-region of South Asia, where the gap between reality and potential has been acute, and is in line with the commitment of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN countries) in this sub-region to align and focus their interventions in selected priority areas including transport and trade facilitation. D. Environmental and Social Overview D.1 Overview of Environmental and Social Project Settings The proposed project will support activities for trade facilitation, enhance regional road connectivity, and strengthen relevant roads and transport sector institutions to promote trade and manage road infrastructure. Under Component 2 Regional Road Connectivity, the project will assist the Department of Roads (DoR) in improving the existing 94.7 km 2- lane Nagdhunga-Naubise-Mugling (NNM) Road on the pivotal North-South trade corridor connecting Kathmandu and Birgunj to a 2-lane standard with 1-meter paved shoulders, and upgrading the 130 km Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathlaiya (KDP) Road along the East-West Highway from a 2-lane to a 4-lane road. Additionally, under Component 3 Institutional Strengthening, the project will support Periodic Road Maintenance of the core road network (3400 lane km). These Public Disclosure roads traverse both rural and urban locations with varying environmental and social concerns. Both the NNM and KDP Roads are existing roads constructed many decades ago. The NNM Road starts in Kathmandu District and ends in Chitwan District, passing through populated areas, urban and rural communities, terraces, undulating cultivated lands, and hilly and mountainous areas with several unstable slopes and active landslides. The main land use along the road corridors consists of cultivated lands, forests, human settlements, and water bodies. The periodic road maintenance works will be carried out on existing roads, while the trade component will also be undertaken at existing selected Inland Clearance Depot sites in Biratnagar and Birgunj. Based on the ESIA, there are six indigenous peoples (IPs) or groups with collective attachment to land in the project area of the NNM road, although outside the Right of Way (RoW). There are no protected areas, national parks, or other environmentally sensitive habitats along the NNM Road corridor. The KDP Road has an approximately 14 km segment adjoining the boundary of Parsa National Park (PNP), forming the southern boundary of PNP. This segment separates the buffer zone of PNP on one side from private lands on the other side of the road. PNP is a protected area in the Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal, covering an area of 627.39 km² in the Parsa, Makwanpur, and Bara districts. PNP supports high biodiversity and wildlife such as Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, Chinese pangolin, Indian hog deer, sloth bear, striped hyena, barking deer, and other species. Elephant movement was noted between the road stretch of km 363+100 and km 334+500. Within the 14 km segment, three wildlife transboundary corridors have been identified. Five other wildlife corridors have been identified for the rest of the KDP Road outside this segment. The additional financing (AF) is proposed to address the current financing gap of the KDP Road and enable key project activities to proceed. Mar 19, 2025 Page 3 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) D.2 Overview of Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Managing Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts The Department of Roads (DoR) has been a long-standing client and partner of the World Bank, possessing significant experience with the Bank’s safeguard policies, the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), and the implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs). The overall Environmental and Social (E&S) performance is rated as Moderately Satisfactory (MS). During the appraisal of the parent project, a thorough assessment of the DoR's E&S capacity and systems in relation to all E&S standards was conducted. The capacity-building program also includes the trade facilitation component's implementing agencies, such as the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD). The project staffing for managing E&S risks is duly constituted according to the original project’s requirement. The Project Coordination Unit (PCU) includes an Environmental Specialist, a Social Development Specialist, a Gender Specialist, and a Health and Safety Specialist. The DoR-GESU has an Environmental Inspector and a Social Expert for advisory, quality assurance, and capacity-building support to the PCU. Contractors have full-time Environmental, Social Development, and Health & Safety Specialists. Construction Supervision Consultants (CSC) maintain an Environmental Specialist, a Social Development Specialist, and a Health and Safety Specialist who provide intermittent support, while an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) officer and two social mobilizers are full-time. In preparation for the AF, it is expected that the simultaneous construction of NNM and KDP will significantly increase the need for E&S monitoring and supervision. Given the project's challenges with Occupational and Community Health and Safety (OCHS) issues, there is a need to enhance the focus on Environmental, Social, Health, and Safety (ESHS) Public Disclosure commitments and contract management. Consequently, it was agreed that the full complement of the DoR PCU E&S team, as in the original project, will be maintained but will focus exclusively on SRCTIP, thereby limiting their oversight of other transport sector projects. As a result, the Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) Phase 1 project will hire separate E&S specialists. Additionally, a full-time OHS inspector will be added to the CSC staffing to enhance supervision. II. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL (ES) RISKS AND IMPACTS A. Environmental and Social Risk Classification (ESRC) High A.1 Environmental Risk Rating High The environmental risk rating for this project remains high, primarily due to the upgrading activities of the NNM and KDP roads under Component 2 Regional Road Connectivity. Environmental risks for the NNM road are consistent with those assessed in its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). No significant biodiversity-related risks are anticipated, as there is no forested land or conservation areas along the road alignment. Mitigation measures are being implemented to mitigate the risks. For KDP Road, based on ESIA finalized in October 2024, about 14km segment of the road adjoins the Parsa National Park (PNP), forming its southern boundary. This segment separates the buffer zone of the PNP on one side with the private lands on the other side of the road. Wildlife movements across the entire KDP road alignment are observed, particularly in the vicinity of the PNP; road upgrading and operation are likely to impact wildlife mobility, cause disturbance to the national park, and affect natural and modified habitats Mar 19, 2025 Page 4 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) along the road alignment, including potential road kills. The detailed design of the KDP road has incorporated wildlife crossings such as underpasses/bridges and arboreal canopy bridges, along with other measures following international and regional good practice guidelines to address these risks. Furthermore, tree cutting along the right- of-way during the widening of the existing road to a four-lane standard will be necessary to the extent that it cannot be avoided. Several roadside settlements will be exposed to noise, dust, air pollution, and safety risks. Occupational and community health and safety during construction will require closer attention, as this is proving to be a systemic issue in Nepal needing significant improvement. During operation, positive impacts are expected on the economy with increased regional trade between Nepal and India. Traffic-related safety is also expected to improve with the safety features of the improved and/or widened roads and the enforcement of road safety rules, which will also be supported by the project. Lastly, with the construction of wildlife passes, fences, including guiding fences, afforestation, and other measures proposed and implemented based on the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) along the KDP road, it is expected that wildlife collisions will be minimized, and connectivity will be facilitated, thus creating beneficial impacts on wildlife and biodiversity. High A.2 Social Risk Rating The social risk associated with the project activities remains "High" due to the complex construction activities on the NNM and KDP roads impacting economic and physical displacements, of approximately 193 households. The displacement primarily impact economic businesses like tea shops, fruit and vegetable stalls, and small grocery shops. No resettlement impact is expected for the Trade facilitation component. Indigenous Peoples (IPs), are present in the project along the road but outside the Road RoW, howver with no adverse impacts on their land, relocation, or cultural heritage. IPDPs have been developed and disclosed for both road sections. The potential for labor-related Public Disclosure risks, including worker and community safety, child labor, m labor influx workers’ rights and gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), remain key concerns. Contractor ESMP, Labor Management Plans (LMPs), Stakeholder Engagement Plans, OHS plan, community health and safety plan and SEA/SH action plans are completed and being implemented for the NNM section but pending DoR’s approval for KDP whose contractor has only recently mobilized. The project receives and includes grievance data in project and mission report. Delays in convening Grievance Redress Committee meetings and has impacted timely resolution of complaints promptly which is now being being tracked for efficiency. B. Environment and Social Standards (ESS) that Apply to the Activities Being Considered B.1 Relevance of Environmental and Social Standards ESS1 - Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts Relevant The additional financing (AF) is proposed to address the current funding gap of KDP Road and enable key project activities to proceed. The AF will support activities included in the scope of the parent project. The Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) have been updated accordingly. Prior to the AF, the Bank reviewed and approved the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), Indigenous People Development Plan (IPDP), Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP), and Cumulative Impact Assessment (as part of the ESIA) for the entire 130 km section of the KDP Road. No further environmental and social assessments are anticipated. The ES instruments were disclosed locally and on the Bank’s website prior to the AF was processed. Site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) have been prepared and Mar 19, 2025 Page 5 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) implemented for the NNM road where several gaps were noted in OHS and traffic management implementation. Corrective actions were taken following regular follow-up and the deployment of an additional health and safety expert at the field level. Environmental mitigation measures are being implemented in accordance with the ESMPs. Notably, contractors are implementing bio-engineering measures to address vulnerable slopes and revegetation, reusing spoils to prepare grounds for local schools, and conducting water quality monitoring and reuse for dust control at construction sites where feasible. For KDP Road, site-specific ESMPs are currently being prepared by contractors as pre-construction activities. The overall Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) performance of the project was rated Moderately Satisfactory in the last two Implementation Support Reports. ESS10 - Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Relevant Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEPs) were developed for the NNM Road, KDP Road, and periodic maintenance, with a separate SEP for the Trade Facilitation component. The SEP for NNM/KDP has been updated with site-specific details to guide consultations throughout the project's lifecycle, including the AF. Consultations have been held with key stakeholders, such as local authorities, NGOs, CSOs, teachers, political leaders, women's groups, vulnerable populations, Indigenous Peoples, business groups, and road users. These consultations addressed the project's impacts on properties, utilities, cultural sites, the GRM, and SEA/SH issues. A grievance structure is in place at both site and PCU levels, with a Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) at the site level handling initial grievance which are escalated to the PCU if unresolved. As of January 2025, 398 grievances were recorded for the NNM Road, with 327 resolved and 71 pending, mostly related to construction impacts and community requests for for drains, footpaths, and additional lanes. For the KDP, the GRC was formed in December 2024, but no complaint data has been reported. Backlog of unresolved grievances were due to inconsistent GRC meetings which needs enhancement. Complaints are Public Disclosure prioritized by severity, and responses are required within 14 days unless otherwise agreed with complainant. The CSC facilitates the establishment and management of the Contractor GRM. Site-level grievances are reported to the PCU for consolidation and updates in progress and mission reports. ESS2 - Labor and Working Conditions Relevant The project will employ direct, contracted, and primary supply workers, with a significant workforce needed during construction. In Nepal, labor often comes from outside project areas, necessitating labor camps. As of January 2025, the NNM road project involves 937 workers, including 240 locals (12 females) and 696 non-locals (50 females). KDP contractors mobilized in November 2024 and are beginning recruitment. Labor Management Procedures (LMP) have been developed and adapted into site-specific labor management plans for the NNM road and will be adapted for KDP as well. The LMP outlines labor management requirements and management for the different categories of workers in line with national laws and ESS2, addressing issues like child and forced labor, and establishing a worker- specific Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). Contractor Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) plans cover incident reporting, PPE use, emergency procedures, and training, detailed in bidding documents and contracts. Enhanced contract management is essential to ensure compliance The project has a full-time Health and Safety Specialist at the PCU, a full-time Health & Safety Specialist with the contractor, and an intermittent Health and Safety Specialist and full-time OHS inspector with the CSC. An additional OHS inspector was added to the CSC for enhanced supervision. OHS challenges on the NNM road, particularly with PPE and traffic management, are being addressed with a corrective action plan and regular tracking and pictorial updates on progress. A final report is due by February 2025. An independent traffic and road safety audit is expected to start by March 2025. Mar 19, 2025 Page 6 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) ESS3 - Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management Relevant ESS3 is relevant due to the significant resource requirements and potential environmental pollution associated with the project. The construction activities require considerable resource materials, which may result in increased emissions, and waste generation. For both the NNM and KDP roads, sourcing of construction materials has been planned from third-party providers with thorough environmental considerations. Contractors for the NNM and KDP roads are mandated to ensure that suppliers adhere to sustainable practices, such as responsible material sourcing, waste minimization, and compliance with environmental regulations, to mitigate adverse environmental impacts during material supply, properly documented. The expansion of the KDP road from two lanes to four lanes and the construction of a new bypass will require substantial amount of construction materials. During the construction phase, air emissions will include exhaust from heavy vehicles and machinery, as well as fugitive dust generated by construction activities. Individuals residing near the construction sites and along the transport routes are most likely to be impacted. Mitigation measures, such as dust suppression and vehicle maintenance, will be implemented to minimize air emission impacts during construction, with residual impacts expected to be limited in scope and duration. Construction activities will generate solid and liquid waste, primarily consisting of excavated soil and hazardous waste, including hydrocarbon oils from construction machinery and vehicles. The waste generated will be disposed of at approved sites in accordance with national laws and regulations. While greenhouse gas emissions from the project are anticipated to be minimal due to the rehabilitation nature of the work, the impacts and risks have been assessed, and mitigation measures have been included in the respective Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) for the KDP and NNM roads. ESS4 - Community Health and Safety Relevant Public Disclosure The project involves heavy machinery, excavation, and material transportation, posing safety hazards and access inconveniences to nearby communities. Approved Traffic Management, Community Health and Safety, and SEA/SH Prevention Plans are being implemented for the NNM project, with similar plans for the KDP pending approval. The Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) requires contractors to install safety systems, such as fences and guards, and secure equipment at night. Road designs will include universal accessibility features. The NNM project highlighted the need for improved community health and safety measures due to poor traffic management and dust, prompting a corrective action plan and enhanced CSC staffing. Improvements in traffic signage and training for flag personnel have been noted with the implementation of the corrective action plan. The project also supports the National Road Safety Council's Safe Corridor Demonstration Program for traffic safety and post-crash management in the project sites. Air, water, and noise monitoring are complete, but contract management needs improvement to enforce ESHS conditions. Road safety and community health are expected to improve during the operational phase with new safety features on widened roads. ESS5 - Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement Relevant Resettlement impact for road improvement works has been significantly reduced by optimizing the existing ROW and dropping a bypass option which would have involved substantial land acquisition. Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) for NNM and KDP, have been prepared according to ESS5 to address impacts on 193 households (NNM-129, KDP-64). Joint verification for KDP RAP is ongoing, while NNM implementation is 80% complete. Compensation has been paid to 119 of 129 PAPs (62 fully, 57 first tranche), with 3 more in process, 3 avoided through design changes, and 4 disputes under resolution by the project grievance committee. An additional 35 structures identified during Mar 19, 2025 Page 7 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) construction will be included in the RAP completion report. No resettlement impact is expected for the Trade Facilitation component or Road Periodic Maintenance activities. ESS6 - Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Relevant Resources ESS6 is relevant due to the upgrading of NNM and KDP roads and road maintenance activities. For the NNM road, there are no forested lands or conservation areas along the road alignment. No significant risks to wildlife or biodiversity due to the road widening are anticipated. Biodiversity-related risks and impacts have been screened, assessed, and incorporated into ESMPs and are being implemented. Contractors are implementing bio-engineering measures to address vulnerable slopes and revegetation. Similarly, biodiversity risk mitigation measures are incorporated into the ESMPs for road maintenance activities and are being implemented. For the KDP road, an ESIA, ESMP, and BMP were completed, consulted, and disclosed locally and on the World Bank website on October 11, 2024. For the KDP road, about 14km segment of the road adjoins the Parsa National Park (PNP), forming its southern boundary. This segment separates the buffer zone of the PNP on one side with the private lands on the other side of the road. Wildlife movements across the entire KDP road alignment are observed, particularly in the vicinity of the national park. The road upgrading will result in the cutting of trees while widening the RoW from 2-lane to 4-lane. Given the proximity to the natural habitat, the biodiversity assessment of the KDP road included a critical habitat assessment and developed a net gain strategy for critical habitat features such as the Asian Elephant as part of the BMP. According to the assessment, potential impacts arising from the KDP road upgrading and operation include impact on wildlife movement, disturbance to the national park (while no direct impact is anticipated), habitat loss and degradation along the road alignment due to road widening, reduced habitat connectivity, road kills, human- Public Disclosure wildlife conflict, and disturbance to wildlife due to artificial light and traffic noise during operation. Accordingly, mitigation measures have been incorporated into the detailed road design and BMP following international and regional good practice guidelines to provide crossings for elephants, tigers, ungulates, and other types of wildlife such as amphibians. Specifically, the KDP road upgrading will provide: i) eight underpasses/bridges that consider optimal locations, minimum dimensions, openness index, etc., ii) guiding fences (e.g., solar fence) for elephant and medium- sized animal crossings that also address human-wildlife conflict issues, iii) elephant-proof trenches, iv) ten modified bridges and culverts for medium animals and other types of wildlife, v) six arboreal canopy bridges that facilitate the movement of arboreal wildlife, and vi) other measures such as rumble strips, signage, variable message signs, sound and light barriers. To implement these measures effectively, the Parsa National Park, the WWF, and relevant government agencies with mandated roles in biodiversity conservation will be continually consulted, including the construction monitoring of the wildlife passages. Wildlife movement monitoring and setting up a Rapid Response Wildlife Management Unit will be conducted during the construction and operation phases with appropriate budget allocations. For trees that will be cut for KDP road widening, compensatory afforestation will be undertaken in compliance with national requirements, which stipulate a 1:10 afforestation ratio (planting of ten trees per one tree lost) and are expected to achieve a net gain of 261 ha of afforested land. Overall, through the significant afforestation program, provision of wildlife crossings for different types of wildlife as per good international and regional practices guidelines, and other mitigation measures proposed in the BMP, a net gain of critical habitat features is expected to be achieved. ESS7 - Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan African Historically Underserved Traditional Relevant Local Communities Mar 19, 2025 Page 8 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) Indigenous Peoples (IPs), as defined by ESS7, are present in the NNM project area (Kathmandu, Dhading, and Chitwan districts; Chandragiri and Dhunibeshi municipalities; and Thakre, Galchhi, Gajuri, and Ichchhakamana rural municipalities) and the KDP project area (Karjanha Rural Municipality, Ganeshman Charnath, Dhanushadham, Mithilain, Bardibas, Gaushala, Ishworpur, Lalbandi, Hariwon, Bagmati, Brindaban, Chandrapur, Gujara in Rautahat district, Nijgadh, Kohlbi and Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City). The NNM road section identifies six IP communities (Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Chepang, and Bhujel), while KDP identifies eleven (Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Newar, Gharti/Bhujel, Sunwar, Tharu/Chaudhary, Bote/Majhi and Danuwar). These communities have ties to the project area but are outside the Road RoW. Assessments show no adverse impacts on their land, relocation, or cultural heritage, though risks include labor influx, SEA/SH, and traffic safety. IPDPs were prepared and disclosed in February 2020 for NNM and June 2024 for KDP, with measures to address potential impacts. Proposed IPDP activities, including small infrastructure development, are in the contractor's BOQ. IPDP implementation for KDP has not started, while NNM activities have begun in ICB 1, with plans for ICB 2 and ICB 3 yet to start. ESS8 - Cultural Heritage Relevant The project developed a chance find procedure as part of the ESMP and incorporated it into contractor ESMP for implementation. The improvements in NNM Road will only affect 3 small newly constructed temples/shrines. In stakeholder consultations, the local community advised that these temples do not hold significant cultural significance and can be relocated to nearby public land. The relocation of these small temples are included in the RAP for NNM Road. No other tangible and intangible cultural heritage were recorded in NNM road based on the ESIA. A number of cultural structures such as temples and resting places with religious trees (Bar/Pipal Chautaro) are found along the KDP Roads many of which are within significant distance from the road alignment. Mitigation hierarchy is Public Disclosure applied on the management of the project's potential risks and impacts. The presence of cultural heritage under the Trade Component is not envisaged. To date, no records of chance finds have been identified during the ongoing construction works. ESS9 - Financial Intermediaries Not Currently Relevant This standard is not relevant. B.2 Legal Operational Policies that Apply OP 7.50 Operations on International Waterways No OP 7.60 Operations in Disputed Areas No B.3 Other Salient Features Use of Borrower Framework No No Borrower Framework is being adopted for the Project. Use of Common Approach No No Common Approach is considered for the project including AF. Mar 19, 2025 Page 9 of 10 The World Bank Nepal Strategic Road Connectivity And Trade Improvement Project (P170409) C. Overview of Required Environmental and Social Risk Management Activities C.1 What Borrower environmental and social analyses, instruments, plans and/or frameworks are planned or required by implementation? Updated ESCP Updated SEP III. CONTACT POINT World Bank Task Team Leader: Deepak Man Singh Shrestha Title: Senior Transport Specialist Email: dshrestha@worldbank.org IV. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20433 Public Disclosure Telephone: (202) 473-1000 Web: http://www.worldbank.org/projects V. APPROVAL Task Team Leader(s): Deepak Man Singh Shrestha ADM Environmental Specialist: Ning Yang ADM Social Specialist: Gloria Malia Mahama Mar 19, 2025 Page 10 of 10