Reporting Period: (July – December 2024)

Country: Uzbekistan

ADB Loan(s) No.: 3963(COL)/3965-UZB

August 2025

 

Uzbekistan: Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridor 2 Karakalpakstan Road (A380 Kungrad to Daut-Ata Section) Project: Upgrading and Widening of a 25-km Section (Km 673 to Km 698) of the A380 Project.

 

Prepared by: Construction Supervision Consultant – Yooshin Engineering Co. in joint venture with ISAN corporation Intelligent Solution LLC

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS

(as of 31 December 2024)[1]

Currency unit	–	Sum (SUM)
SUM1.00	=	$0.000077
$1.00	=	SUM 12,920.48

 

 

 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

AA	Avtoyulinvest Agency
ADB	Asian Development Bank
BAP	Biodiversity Action Plan
CAREC	Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation
CHA	Critical Habitat Assessment
CSC	Construction Supervision Consultant
EFS	Environmental Followings Statement (ZEP)
EHS	Environmental Health & Safety
EHSS	Environment, Health, Safety, and Security
EIS	Environmental Impact Statement (ZVOS)
EMoP	Environmental Monitoring Plan
EMP	Environmental Management Plan
GoU	Government of Uzbekistan
GRM	Grievance Redress Mechanism
HSE	Health, Safety, and Environment
IEE	Initial Environmental Examination
IES	International Environment Specialist (under the CSC)
IR	Inception Report
LARP	Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan
MEEPCC	Ministry of Ecology, Environment Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
MFF	Multitranche Financing Facility
MOT	Ministry of Transport
MSW	Municipal Solid Waste
NESS	National Environmental Safeguard Specialist (under the CSC)
PMU	Project Management Unit (under the Avtoyulinvest Agency)
RoW	Right of Way
SAEMR	Semi-Annual Environmental Monitoring Report
CR	Committee for Roads under the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan
SPS	Safeguard Policy Statement
SSEMP	Site-Specific Environmental Management Plan
WIM	Weigh-in-motion

 

 

GLOSSARY

 

Contractor	Consortium Dorkomplektsnab and New Tech
Khokimyat	Local State Administrative Unit

 

NOTES

The fiscal year (FY) of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the period from the first of January until thirty-first of December, inclusive.

In this report, "$" refers to US dollars.

This environmental monitoring report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or Staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section of ADB’s website.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

 

 

CONTENTS

CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS.. 2

ABBREVIATIONS.. 2

NOTES.. 4

LIST OF TABLES.. 7

LIST OF FIGURES.. 8

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.. 9

1.... INTRODUCTION.. 13

1.1..... Preamble. 13

1.2..... Headline Information. 15

1.3..... Methodology and Scope of the Environmental Monitoring. 15

1.4..... Important Work under Environmental Monitoring. 16

2.... PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES. 17

2.1..... Project Background. 17

2.2..... The Road Rehabilitation Works. 19

2.3..... Project Contracts and Management 20

2.3.1.  Responsibilities for supervision of environmental matters. 22

2.3.2.  Responsible for carrying out mitigation measure. 23

2.3.3.  Roles and Responsibilities of Environmental Management Stakeholders. 23

2.4..... Project Activities During Current Reporting Period. 25

2.4.1.  Project Progress. 25

2.4.2.  Mobilization of Resources. 26

2.4.3.  Environment Statutory Clearance. 28

2.5..... Description of Any Changes to Project Design. 28

2.6..... Description of Any Changes to Agreed Construction methods. 28

3.... ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD ACTIVITIES.. 28

3.1..... General Description of Environmental Safeguard Activities. 28

3.2..... Site Audits. 30

3.3..... Unanticipated Environmental Impacts or Risks. 32

4.... STATUS OF COMPLIANCE WITH COVENANTS.. 32

5.... COMPLIANCE WITH ADB PROJECT ADMINISTRATION MANUAL (PAM) 35

6.... RESULTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING.. 39

6.1..... Overview of Monitoring Conducted during Current Period. 39

6.1.1.  Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Monitoring. 40

6.1.2.  Waste management 40

6.1.3.  Material Resources Mobilization. 41

6.1.4.  Health and Safety. 41

6.1.5.  Camp. 42

6.2..... Summary of Monitoring Outcomes. 43

6.3..... Training. 64

6.4..... Complaints. 64

7.... SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.. 65

7.1..... Summary. 65

7.2..... Recommendations. 69

ANNEX 1. LOG BOOKS PHOTOS. 70

 

 

 

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1...... Status of Environmental Plans required from Contractor Consortium DORKOMPLEKTSNAB PLUS & New Tech LLC.. 12

Table 2...... Personnel relevant to Environmental Safeguards. 21

Table 3...... The role of a responsible stakeholder 23

Table 4...... Progress Related to Program according to the IPCs submitted by the Contractor 25

Table 5...... Environmental Safeguards Activities Carried out During Reporting Period (January - June 2025) 29

Table 6...... Site Visits Conducted during the Monitoring Period. 31

Table 7...... Information and conclusion summary of site inspections. 31

Table 8...... Status of compliance with ADB’s Loan Covenants. 33

Table 9...... Status of compliance with ADB’s PAM.. 36

Table 10.... status of the environmental issues. 44

Table 11.... Status of Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Implementation (for construction stage) as of 30 of June 2025. 46

Table 12.... Summary of Complaints received during the monitoring period (and the ones pending since the previous monitoring period(s)) 65

Table 13.... Issues Identified during the Monitoring Period. 67

 

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.     Badai Tugai Reserve location map (Source: World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA), September 2024, https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/kba-data) 11

Figure 2.     The main species of the Baday-Tugay Reserve. 14

Figure 3.     Location Map of the Project Road. 17

Figure 4.     Institutional flowchart for the implementation of environmental safeguards. 22

Figure 5.     Project construction activity. 26

Figure 6.     Contractor's Organization chart 27

Figure 7.     Contractor's manpower mobilization on site. 27

Figure 8.     Waste management issues carried out by Contractor 40

Figure 9.     Health issues carried out by Contractor 42

Figure 10.   Health issues carried out by Contractor 64

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. This is the 1^st Semi-Annual Environmental Monitoring Report (SAEMR) for Loans No. 3963(COL)/3965-UZB including Amendments dd. 31 August 2022. Second CAREC Corridor 2 Road Investment Program, Karakalpakstan Road (A380 Kungrad to Daut-Ata Section) Project; it was crafted based on the review of the report by the PMU and Construction Supervision Consultants' (CSC) International and National Environmental Consultants including the outcome of the site visit by the International and National Environmental Consultants of the PMU. The report covers the monitoring period from July – December 2024.
2. The implementation of the Project is governed by Asian Development Bank Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS, 2009). Under the policy requirement, the Implementing Agency (IA) is required to prepare and implement environmental safeguards documents, i.e., Environmental Impact Assessment, Initial Environmental Examination, Environmental Management Plan and other periodic requirements like this report (SAEMR). Through Environment Management Plan (EMP)/ Site Specific Environment Management Plan (SSEMP) implementation, the IA has to monitor these plans' compliance at regular intervals with the environmental laws, policies and regulations of the Government of Uzbekistan.
3. The report is based on the accumulative figure, data and information of all monthly reports from July to December 2024. Potential environmental impacts are identified, including indirect and cumulative impacts, and their significance is assessed.
4. The project is classified as environment category B as the proposed project’s potential adverse environmental impacts are site-specific, few if any of them are irreversible, and in most cases mitigation measures can be designed more readily than for category A projects.
5. The road is entirely located in the Ustyurt Desert and is well known for its biodiversity, particularly for migrating birds and Saiga (Saiga tatarica), a critically endangered antelope. The proposed project area is not considered as critical habitat; however, it is having high biodiversity value and habitat of critically endangered or endangered species and migratory species. The proposed road (25+4 km) is upgrading, which includes realignments, and passes through wildlife habitats.
6. The condition of the existing road pavement in the project is generally unsatisfactory. On major sections, there are continuous cracks, potholes, rutting, and edge deterioration forcing the drivers to reduce the travel speed and traverse on the shoulder or tracks. In some sections, the pavement has completely deteriorated to a gravel road standard.
7. The entire project road will be upgraded to cement concrete pavement. Parking spaces at rest areas will be provided. The new road level will, in general, be raised by 1-2 m. In combination with the applied embankment slope ratio of 1:4 (V:H), the width of the new formation will be more than 20.0 m. The general design speed for the road sections is 120 km/h. Road safety will be enhanced with the installation of traffic controls that includes road signs, signal posts, traffic markings, lighting, bus stops and sidewalks.
8. The civil construction works is staunder the implementation stage were started in September 2024. The CSC Consultants also started working under the guidance of the Team Leader (TL) to review updated designs with ancillary tasks to prepare for the actual physical construction works. In parallel, monitoring of the implementation of environmental aspects of the project, including the realization of Environment Management Plan that mentioned in the IEE and other safeguards related reports to satisfy project and ADB conditionality and as contractual obligations.
9. Since no any Environmental Specialists were hired in 2024 for stakeholders no any working relationship for environmental management and monitoring have been maintained between the PMU, CSC and Contractor. The Contractor haven’t submitted the Monthly Environmental Reports for the Supervision Consultant’s environment team for their review and further reporting to the PMU.
10. The project’s construction activities are ongoing on a continual basis following the construction schedule. However, out of the total, the overall progress achieved in connection to civil construction activities 31 December, 2024 is about 17.74% and 71.9 % of the contract period have been passed since the commencement date for Package 1 (Lot 1,2,3) and Package 2 (Lot 2,3,4), respectively.
11. Based on the inspection trips of the National Operational Health and Safety Specialist hired in November 2024, recommendations are made to improve the safety of work at construction sections and sites. Introductory briefings are regularly held for newly hired employees. The contractor was advised to check the knowledge of workers' occupational health and safety requirements and, if necessary, to re-instruct them regarding safety and health.
12. Flora and Fauna: No significant impact on flora was noted during the reporting period, except the wild fauna is very scarce but still exists nearby the project road. In Winter season deers were moved from the Badai Tugai Reserve (see location map in the below Figure) to roadside searching for a meal at night.

Figure 1.Badai Tugai Reserve location map (Source: World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA), September 2024, https://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/kba-data)

1. Project quarries with auxiliary production and maintenance facilities are located on land unused in agriculture, far from residential buildings and structures. Sections of quarries are developed in an open pit.
2. The borrow areas are located on unused land so that the hauling routes mostly avoid residential areas. However, environmental impacts from the borrow areas and quarries originate if the limitations for carrying out work are not observed rigorously (moving machinery along designated routes, preserving the topsoil). Watering for the control of dust emissions were not monitored.
3. The grievance redress mechanism was not established yet on Contractor’s level. There was no complaint received from communities due to construction activities. Until the current report preparation (31^st December 2024), there was no official filing of any grievance.
4. The present Project is not an exception. In terms of safeguards, it is governed under Asian Development Bank’s Safeguard Policy Statement (2009), and Uzbekistan Environmental Law and Legislation; ABD’s focus is centered on the safeguards and impacts projects would have on the life of people. Other national, provincial and local policies and frameworks of Uzbekistan are integrated and will be applied during project implementation. Contractor is fully obliged to comply.

Table 1.Status of Environmental Plans required from Contractor Consortium DORKOMPLEKTSNAB PLUS & New Tech LLC

No	Name of Plans	Status	Remarks
1	Site- Specific Environmental Management Plan (SSEMP)	Not submitted	-
2	Traffic Management Plan	Not submitted	-
3	Occupational Health and Safety Plan	Not submitted	-
4	Waste Management Plan	Not submitted	-
5	Borrow Pits and Quarry Management Plan	Not submitted	-
6	Air Quality Management and Dust Suppression Plan	Not submitted	-
7	Noise and Vibration Management Plan	Not submitted	-
8	Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan	Not submitted	-
9	Spill Contingency Plan	Not submitted	-
10	Environmental Monitoring Plan	Not submitted	-
11	Biodiversity Protection and Habitat Management Plan	Not submitted	-
12	Cultural Heritage Protection and Chance Finding Plan	Not submitted	-
13	Community Engagement and Social Management Plan	Not submitted	-
14	Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan	Not submitted	-
15	Legal and Regulatory Compliance Plan	Not submitted	-
16	Training and Capacity Building Plan	Not submitted	-
17	Environmental Audit and Compliance Inspection Plan	Not submitted	-
18	Camp Site Management Plan	Not submitted	-

1. During the reporting period from July 2024 to December 2024, there was no any monitoring of Contractor’s compliance of EMP. The environmental personnel were not mobilized at the site and the Site-Specific Environmental Management Plan (SSEMP) was not prepared yet. In addition, the Contractor failed to fully submit all environmental permits and licenses necessary for the execution of construction activities.

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1.Preamble

1. This is the 1^st Semi-Annual Environmental Monitoring Report (SAEMR) for ADB Loans No. 3963/3965-UZB Second CAREC Corridor 2 Road Investment Program, Karakalpakstan Road (A380 Kungrad to Daut-Ata Section) Project: Upgrading and Widening of a 25-km Section (Km 673 to Km 698) of the A380 project.
2. Based on the ADB Environmental Safeguards Policy (2009), this Project is classified as Category B, with additional requirements including the preparation of a Biodiversity Management Plan informed by the findings of the Critical Habitat Assessment (CHA). According to ADB SPS 2009, a project is categorized as Category B when:

• adverse environmental impacts are less significant than those of Category A projects;
• impacts are site-specific and few, if any, are irreversible; and
• in most cases, mitigation measures can be more readily designed and implemented.

1. For Category B projects, an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is required. Project categorization is determined based on its most environmentally sensitive components therefore, all outputs and activities under the Project fall under Category B The IEE Report[2] was prepared for this Project and submitted to ADB, in August 2022.
2. The ADB SPS requires projects in Natural Habitats to design mitigation measures to achieve at least no net loss of biodiversity. It requires projects in Critical Habitat to demonstrate ‘no measurable adverse impacts, or likelihood of such, on the critical habitat which could impair its high biodiversity value or the ability to function’, no ‘reduction in the population of any recognized endangered or critically endangered species or a loss in area of the habitat concerned such that the persistence of a viable and representative host ecosystem be compromised’, and mitigation of any lesser impacts. An IEE report was prepared by the Committee for Roads under the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan (CR)[3] and after the clearance from the ADB, the report has been disclosed on ADB’s website. The proposed rehabilitation and upgrading will comply with relevant nature protection and HSE laws, including air, water, noise and waste standards and regulations, and international ground vibration values and other road construction regulations. The proposed project involves rehabilitating and upgrading the existing A380 between Kungrad and Daut-Ata, terminating at the border control point (BCP) between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
3. The existing road will be upgraded to a two-lane with shoulders and with cement concrete pavement. The project primarily involves two key components:

• Upgrading and Widening of the A380 Highway: A 25-kilometer section of the A380 highway, located between kilometer markers 673 and 698, will be upgraded and widened to feature durable cement concrete pavement, ensuring improved capacity and durability.
• Upgrading of the 4R180 Road: A 4-kilometer section of the 4R180 road, from kilometer markers 0 to 4, will be upgraded and converted into a 2-lane road with cement concrete pavement, aligning with the standards set for the CAREC Corridor 2 project.

1. In total, the project encompasses the development and upgrading of 29 kilometers of road infrastructure, with a focus on utilizing cement concrete pavement to ensure long-term sustainability and reduced maintenance needs. These improvements form part of the broader CAREC Corridor 2 Karakalpakstan Road (A380 Kungrad to Daut-Ata Section) initiative, enhancing transportation efficiency and strengthening the region’s integration within the CAREC network
2. The road is entirely located within the Central Asian southern desert ecoregion, on the western edge of the Kyzylkum desert and close to the Amudarya river riparian woodland ecoregion. There is one nationally protected site within 50 km of the project – the Lower Amudarya Biosphere Reserve (LABR), located approximately 800 m from the A380 alignment and 25 km south of the rural road alignment. Established in 2011 and designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2021, LABR aims to conserve the Tugay forest – a rare riparian ecosystem found along permanent rivers like the Amu Darya. These forests, increasingly threatened by human activity, support wetland and forest-dependent species (see photos below).

Figure 2.The main species of the Baday-Tugay Reserve

Bukhara Deer	Central Asian Turtle
Yellow-eyed Pigeon	Asiatic Bustard
Red Fox	Central Asian Jackal

1. Although the project road does not traverse the biosphere reserve itself, its close proximity necessitates careful environmental management to prevent indirect impacts on this sensitive area. No other nationally protected areas are located within the immediate vicinity of the project alignment.
2. The Project is classified as Category B for environment under the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (2009) and is subject to the preparation of an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE). The impacts are generally site-specific, mostly reversible, and can be effectively mitigated through appropriate measures. An IEE, including an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), is therefore required.
3. As part of the IEE study, it was concluded that the project area has an indirect influence on habitats supporting diverse ecosystems, including Saxaul forests near the Lower Amudarya Biosphere Reserve (LABR) and riparian Tugai forests along the Amudarya River. Notable fauna in the area includes the Goitered Gazelle, classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, and the Bukhara or Bactrian Deer. Bird surveys along the A380 corridor recorded common Eurasian species, while the LABR hosts 91 bird species, including two internationally Vulnerable species: the Eurasian Turtle Dove and the Yellow-eyed Pigeon. Hence, the preparation of a comprehensive Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was determined under the IEE to ensure that any adverse impacts – particularly on Bukhara Deer – are avoided or minimized. The EMP was launched during the reporting period and also addresses other potential impacts such as dust and vehicular emissions, noise, and occupational and community health and safety.
4. This SAEMR describes the implementation of the environmental monitoring and mitigation measures recommended in the IEE report, analyzes environmental data collected during the period of July – December 2024, and provides recommendations for the resolution of identified issues.
5. This report provides a review on how the contractor carried out the environmental measures needed to prevent and/or mitigate negative environmental effects associated with the development project, during the monitoring period. The report also provides a summary of the currently outstanding major and minor issues that need to be addressed and suggestions for mitigation measures.

1.2.Headline Information

1. The Loans Agreements No.3963(COL)/3965-UZB were signed between the Republic of Uzbekistan and ADB on 3rd December 2020, where the Committee for Roads of the Republic of Uzbekistan (the State Committee for Roads) is assigned as Project Executive Agency and responsible for the carrying out of the Project. The Project Agreement is signed between ADB and State Committee for Roads on 4th December 2020. Amendments to the Loan Agreements No.3963(COL)/3965-UZB was signed on 10th May 2023 where included the upgrading and widening of 25km section of A380 (673-698 km) highway; and upgrading of 4km section of the 4P 180 rural road adjacent to A380 highway
2. In dealing with Government and ADB policies and procedures, Project Administration Manual (PAM) has been disclosed by ADB in August 2023 which describes the essential administrative and management requirements to implement the project on time, within budget for which PAM is mandatory and serves as the main document describing implementation details. In compliance with the PAM, the project authority / Executive Agency follow and fulfil the requirements mentioned in the PAM.
3. The Supervision Consultant and PMU will ensure the implementation of the mitigation measures as specified in the IEE/EMP and BAP. The Committee for Roads, with support from local NGOs and other stakeholders, will implement the BAP during the operation phase. Semi-annual environmental monitoring reports covering the environmental safeguard issues will be prepared and submitted to ADB for review and disclosure. No Site-Specific Environmental Management Plan (SSEMP) was prepared by the construction contractor Consortium “DORKOMPLEKTSNAB and New tech” for the revision of Engineer. If any unanticipated environmental impacts and risks arise during construction, PMU will inform ADB, with a detailed description of the event and proposed corrective action plan.

1.3.Methodology and Scope of the Environmental Monitoring

1. Since no any specialist was mobilized in 2024 this SAEMR was prepared in the month of August 2025. This is the 1^st SAEMR under the Project covering all the project sites and activities. The report aims to provide information on the project status and to evaluate the future implementation of EMP for necessary improvement if needed.
2. The environmental monitoring for this period was done under the EMP formulated in the IEE Report prepared in 2022. The contents of the consultant’s monthly environmental reports and consultations with contractor formed the available secondary information, along with the field investigations.
3. In order to ensure compliance with ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS 2009), the Implementing Agency (IA) is responsible to ensure the implementation of the environmental management and monitoring requirements and procedures. Implementing Agency has engaged the construction supervision consultants’ team to strengthen their procurement capacity, support and help monitor design and construction supervision services, and support the preparation, implementation, monitoring and compliance of environmental safeguard action plans. The contractor will be responsible for the execution of construction activities and for environmental protection through their environmental and HSE field staff. The contractor is subject to environmental protection liabilities under national environmental laws, ADB’s Environmental Safeguards, project IEE/EMP provisions and under their contract with the committee for roads.
4. As part of the Terms of Reference for the Construction Supervision for the Project, the CSC, Yooshin Engineering Co. in joint venture with ISAN corporation Intelligent Solution LLC, should undertake environmental management and monitoring as detailed in the EMP and incorporate the findings and supporting data in the environmental reporting.
5. The International Environmental Specialist (IES) and National Environmental Safeguard Specialist (NESS) were not mobilized during the reporting period the environmental monitoring was not carried out by the CSC.

1.4.Important Work under Environmental Monitoring

1. Apart from the routine, there are other environmental measures, including:
   1. use of modern, silenced, and well-maintained batching plant and construction equipment should be used;
   2. all vehicles and plants should be fitted with effective exhaust silencers, which should be maintained in good and efficient working order;
   3. fitted acoustic covers should be kept in a good state of repair and should be kept closed when the plant is in use;
   4. vehicles should not wait or queue on the road with engines running, and plants in intermittent use should be shut down when not in use or where this is impracticable, throttled down to a minimum;
   5. if a site compound or materials storage area is to be used, both it and any static plant within it should be sited as far as is practicable from noise-sensitive buildings;
   6. where activities, including delivery of material to the site, cannot take place during normal working hours, they should be carried out as close to normal working hours as is reasonably practicable;
   7. concrete mixers should not be cleaned by hammering the drums; and
   8. when handling materials, care should be taken not to drop materials from excessive heights.
2. Good communication with affected communities is often the most effective way to manage potential construction noise impacts. Therefore, the Contractor should keep resident informed of the progress of the works, including when and where the noisiest activities will be taking place and how long they are expected to last.

2.PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES

2.1.Project Background

1. The project will upgrade and widen the existing Kungrad to Daut-Ata highway in the Karauzyak and Beruniy districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, with a length of about 25 km, at the section of Guzar-Bukhra-Nukus-Beyneu highway (A380) from km 673 to km 698 and a 4-kilometer section of the 4R180 road. The project road is part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor 2 and is one of the key trade routes in the region. The project will also help develop the institutional capacity of the Committee for Roads (CR) under the Ministry of Transport (MOT), to ensure effective road maintenance, control vehicle overloading, ensure sound road traffic management and improve project management.

Figure 3.Location Map of the Project Road

 

1. The project is aligned with the following impact: regional trade on the CAREC Corridor 2 between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan enhanced.[4] The project will have the following outcome: travel time and efficiency on the reconstructed section of the A380 highway improved.
2. On 31 August 2022, ADB approved the Government’s request to finance, using the loan savings, the (i) upgrading and widening a 25 km section (km 673–km 698) of the A380 highway in the Republic of Karakalpakstan;[5] and (ii) upgrading 4 km of the 4R180 rural road adjacent to A380. Both roads were proposed to be upgraded to concrete pavement and to include climate-resilient design elements and road safety countermeasures.
3. The proposed upgrading and widening of the 25-km section is a high priority for the government and is aligned with the original project scope of upgrading and widening of a section of the A380 highway on the CAREC Corridor 2 (Guzar-Bukhara-Nukus-Beyneu). The 25-km section has not yet been upgraded, is currently in poor condition, and is rapidly deteriorating. The upgraded section will contribute to the original project outcome, as part of one of the key trade routes that connects the western Uzbekistan regions of Kashkadarya, Bukhara, Khorezm, and the Republic of Karakalpakstan, to the Caspian Sea port of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The A380 corridor is expected to become increasingly critical for regional trade. The 4R180 rural road is adjacent to and links to the A380 section, is in poor condition, and is in urgent need of repairs and upgrade. The upgrading of the 4-km section of 4R180 is a pilot initiative under the government’s larger rural road program, for which a design-build contract modality will be applied to leveraging several of the enhanced climate resilience and safety design improvement strategies proposed for the 25-km A380 section. The additional scope will be implemented as Output 4: A380 section from km 673-km 698 upgraded and widened and Output 5: 4-km 4R180 rural road section upgraded and capacity enhanced, both of which have been added to the project’s design and monitoring framework.
4. Output 1: Road from Kungrad to Daut-Ata reconstructed. This road will be the Western-most section of the A380 road in Uzbekistan and will provide an access to the Caspian Sea for trade emanating from Uzbekistan. Access roads will be constructed to improve the access between the villages to the A-380. The output will also construct social infrastructure of 5 rest stops with market stalls, 50% of which will be allocated for women entrepreneurs and separate sanitary facilities for women and men. It will also construct 2 multipurpose community complexes in Jaslik and Karakalpakstan settlements which will house facilities and programs for livelihood skills training for women and men and health desks that will provide, among others, maternal and child health facilities.
5. Output 2: Intelligent Transport System installed. To improve the road safety performance in Uzbekistan, the CR requested for a component on traffic management and monitoring. The details of this component will be designed in consultation with the CR and will comprise the installation of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) on a pilot section of Tashkent – Namangan Road. The introduction of ITS will also help report critical incidents involving women to relevant government agencies for action. The CR will also submit yearly sex-disaggregated reports on road crashes by the type of road user and incident.
6. Output 3: Weigh-in-motion system supplied and installed. To ensure axle load controls and thereby prevent pre-mature pavement failure, the Contractor will install weigh-in-motion (WIM) system along major highways. This will restrict vehicle overloading and preserve the life-span of pavement and contribute to pavement preservation. CR will update the regulations relating to axle load control to ensure that the norms are compatible with the Presidential Decree 342 before the implementation of the WIM station. The project will support installation of axle load control systems at three select locations in the country.
7. Output 4: A380 section from 673-698 km upgraded. The existing 25 km two-lane section of the A380 between 673–698 km will be upgraded to a four-lane dual carriageway with widened shoulders and a wide median to improve road connectivity, efficiency, and safety. The road will be upgraded with concrete pavement to increase resilience to large temperature variations typical for the Karkalpakstan region and to reduce overall life cycle costs and future maintenance needs. Climate-resilient design elements are substantial and include: (a) raised road surface level, (b) climate resilient concrete pavement, (c) new climate resilient drainage structures, (d) enhanced subbase and roadside drainage, and (e) sustainable bioengineering measures. The upgraded road will meet a minimum three-star iRAP safety rating for vehicle occupants and pedestrians, and road safety audits will be undertaken in accordance with the CAREC Road Safety Engineering Manual 1: Road Safety Audit. Road safety countermeasures include improved junctions, a wide median, roadside barriers, wide shoulders, and advanced signs and pavement markings.
8. Output 5: 4-km 4R180 rural road section upgraded and capacity enhanced. The existing 4-km 4R180 rural road section will be upgraded with concrete pavement and other climate adaptations, with the objective of reducing agricultural transport costs, life cycle costs and future maintenance needs. The civil works will be procured using the first use of the design-build contract modality in the country. Although the use of design and build modality is somewhat risky from a procurement perspective, considering the lack of experience of the EA and local contractors in implementing road works using the said modality,  this risk will be mitigated by: (i) inclusion in the bid documents the conceptual design and technical specifications prepared by an experienced design institute (LLC “Yo’l-Loyiha Byurosi” of Uzbekistan) and reviewed by the TRTA consultant (Sheladia Associates Inc. USA), (ii) review and approval by the design institute and consultant of the detailed design submittals by the contractor, and (iii) requiring the construction supervision consultant to provide experts with experience in administering design-build contracts. Because the conceptual design and detailed design requirements will be included in the bid documents, the selected contractor’s responsibility will only be the preparation of the detailed design, which means that the selected contractor will not carry the “fit for purpose” responsibility usually borne by the design/build contractor. Local contractors will be procured, thereby supporting the local construction industry. The procurement, pavement design, and climate resilient elements of this work are intended as a pilot, with the GoU proposing to scale up their rural road construction and maintenance efforts, leveraging lessons learned from this pilot road. The output will also support the development of a rural road construction and maintenance guidebook, which will support the ongoing work to develop a rural roads strategy under TA 9987-UZB.

Supply, Installation and Operation of WIM System

1. A WIM system is a set of equipment and procedures that allows the measurements of tire loads (truck weight measured at the axles) of moving trucks to enforce the maximum axle loads to protect the roads from premature damage. The WIM system allows the real-time classification of vehicles by type, measuring its weight, and process, sorting, analysing, and transmitting recorded data for enforcement. The operational principle of the WIM system is based on measuring sensors embedded in the road pavement that captures and records the vehicle's gross vehicle weight (GVW) moving at normal speeds. Common WIM sensors used to measure weight include polymeric, ceramic, and quartz piezoelectric systems; bending plates; and load cells. The accuracy of WIM systems is affected by the pavement roughness, vehicle suspension, speed, and the system's installation, calibration, and maintenance procedures. The proposed WIM will have the following components:
   • Mainline sorting high-speed system composed of weight sensors installed along the road that allows all vehicles to be instantaneously weighed at high speed;
   • High accuracy low-speed WIM system (both manned and fully automatic) which provides more accurate measurement of diverted trucks that were identified by the high-speed system;
   • Variable messaged road signs, cameras, number plate recognition;
   • Appurtenances that include a communication module and associated software.

2.2.The Road Rehabilitation Works

1. The rehabilitation works have the following features:

• reconstruction of the road with transfer to category I;
• earth bed – combined; separate;
• number of lanes – 2 in each direction;
• lane width – 3.75 m;
• carriageway width – 7.5 m to 11.25
• roadside width – 3.75 m x 2;
• Crossway slopes are 1.5-2.0% and 4.0% for the roadway and shoulders
• steep of embankment slopes in sandy areas – 1:2;
• steep of fill slopes in irrigated areas – 1: 1.5;
• junction and branch of intersections – transition-speed lanes with a width of 3.75 m.
• coating – cement concrete with a thickness of 250 mm;
• arrangement – retaining side metal road fences of barrier type, guideposts, road signs, horizontal and vertical markings;
• artificial structures – widening/extension or replacement.
• 5 rest stops with market stalls

2.3.Project Contracts and Management

1. The Project is being administered by the PMU, which is represented by the Project Director. A full-time safeguard specialist that going to manage and coordinate the contractor and the CSC in reporting to the PMU, State Committee for Roads and ADB on the safeguard performance of the project was hired yet. The PMU will be responsible for overall EMP implementation and will be assisted by the CSC/Engineer. The CSC tasks include but are not limited to supervision for overall compliance with ADB SPS (2009) requirements, the law of the land, preparation and submission of environmental monitoring reports and update of IEE during construction in case of technical design changes or unanticipated impacts. According to the project IEE the SCS team shall include one International Environmental Specialist, one National Environmental Safeguards Specialist, one National Biodiversity Specialist.
2. PMU has already hired the Yooshin Engineering Co. in a joint venture with ISAN corporation Intelligent Solution LLC for Project Management and construction supervision (the commencement date is 25 September 2024). The CSC ensures safeguard compliance of civil works – with particular emphasis on the monitoring of the implementation of Site-Specific EMP (SSEMP) and related aspects of the Project. The CSC team will be staffed with International and National Environment Specialists.
3. All mitigation measures during construction will be implemented by the Contractor, and these will be monitored by the CSC. The Project works commenced by Consortium of DORKOMPLEKTSNAB PLUS & New Tech LLC in 15 October 2024.
4. Project implementation status. The PMU and Supervision Engineer have maintained a good working relationship for management and monitoring. However, the Supervision Engineer and PMU have not hired the Environmental Specialists for regular inspections in construction work sites. During the reporting period, the Contractor also had no environmental personnel mobilized at the site and was not preparing the required monthly environmental progress reports. Consequently, environmental reporting was carried out solely by the Supervision Engineer, based on site inspections and audits conducted by their environmental team and then reporting to the PMU.
5. Under the Contract, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable national, provincial and local environmental laws and regulations as well as respective applicable standards under the Contract.
6. The table below lists the staff involved in the environmental management of the Project.

Table 2.Personnel relevant to Environmental Safeguards

Type of project participant	Name of Agency/ Company	Job Title	Name	E-mail address
Implementing Agency	Project Management Unit (PMU)	National Environmental Specialist	TBD	TBD
Construction Contractor	Consortium DORKOMPLEKTSNAB and New Tech LLC	Environmental Safeguard Specialist	TBD	TBD
		Health officer	TBD
Construction Supervision Consultant (CSC)	Yooshin Engineering Co. in joint venture with ISAN corporation Intelligent Solution LLC.	International Environment Specialist (IES) (6 PMs)	TBD	TBD
		National Environmental Safeguard Specialist (NESS) (12 PMs)	TBD	TBD
		Occupational Health and Safety Specialist (6 PMs)	TBD	TBD
		National Biodiversity specialist	Not provided by ToR	N/A

PM = person-months, TBD = To be determined, ToR = Terms of Reference

Figure 4. Institutional flowchart for the implementation of environmental safeguards

 

EA (PMU) Project Director

Local Ecology/Env. Dept.

Responsible for checking Compliance of Implementation of EMP

Supervision Consultant Environmental Engineer/Manager

(Contractor HSE Dept.) Environmental Engineer / Manager

Supervise and reporting for implementation of EMP

Responsible for Implementation of EMP

Reporting

Reporting

 

 

2.3.1.Responsibilities for supervision of environmental matters

1. To ensure proper compliance with environmental safeguards, the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist of the PMU will monitor environmental matters, and the team shall report and advise to the Project Director on these matters.
2. Environmental issues arising from the construction activities should immediately be brought to his attention to coordinate efforts in order to immediately mitigate impacts, protect the environment, and safeguard the health and welfare of the local communities. All these are to be conducted within the framework of the overall construction management and supervision.
3. The PMU is supported by the CSC, including the IES and NESS, who oversees the construction, monitor all works and activities undertaken by the Contractor(s), and ensure compliance with the specification and contractual requirements. During construction, the contractor will ensure that mitigation measures are implemented and sustained throughout the construction period. The IES and NESS had not been hired yet to join the CSC team and to oversee and monitor the implementation of all mitigating measures required by the EMP/SSEMP in accordance with ADB SPS (2009), and the Government of Uzbekistan Environmental Assessment Requirement.
4. National biodiversity specialist is responsible for documenting the fauna values of the project area, re-assess potential impacts of the project on biodiversity, and the project area's fauna values. It is necessary to implement the Biodiversity Action Plan mentioned in the IEE (Appendix)[6], review and monitor the listed measures, and conclude whether impacts were mitigated during the construction stage; eventually, implementation of these mitigation measures is the construction contractor’s responsibility.

Contractor’s Environmental Personnel: Roles and Responsibilities

1. Site Manager / Coordinator

• Primary Role: Oversees all environmental aspects of the project.
• Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
• Ensure compliance with national regulations and project-specific environmental requirements.
• Liaise with the Client, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders on environmental matters.
• Conduct regular site inspections and audits.
• Report environmental incidents and ensure corrective actions are taken.

2. Site Environmental Officer

• Primary Role: Acts as the on-site point of contact for environmental issues.
• Responsibilities:

• Monitor daily construction activities for environmental compliance.
• Maintain environmental records (e.g., waste logs, water quality data, dust monitoring).
• Support toolbox talks and environmental training for site workers.
• Assist in implementing mitigation measures (e.g., erosion control, noise reduction).
• Coordinate with subcontractors to ensure environmental standards are upheld.

 

2.3.2.Responsible for carrying out mitigation measure

1. During the construction stage, implementation of mitigation measures is the construction contractor’s responsibility.
2. To ensure the implementation of mitigation measures during the construction period, contract clauses for environmental provisions are part of the civil works contracts. Contractor’s conformity with contract procedures and specifications during construction has been carefully monitored by PMU and the CSC.
3. The Contractor did not have a full-time Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Specialist or an Assistant HSE Environmental Specialist mobilized at the site during the entire reporting period to ensure environmental compliance during construction. period.

2.3.3.Roles and Responsibilities of Environmental Management Stakeholders

1. Proper environmental management during construction requires the involvement of several stakeholders and agencies, each with different roles and responsibilities, including:

Table 3.The role of a responsible stakeholder

No.	Company/Unit	Responsibilities
1	PMU	The Project implementing agency will be responsible for overseeing the project implementation. PMU, Project Director/Director, will be responsible for monitoring the overall project implementation, including environmental compliance of the project. PMU will have the final responsibility for the environmental performance of the project during both the construction and operational phases. Specifically, PMU will: i) closely coordinate with local authorities in the participation of the community during project preparation and implementation; ii) monitor and supervise EMP implementation, including the incorporation of EMP into the detailed technical designs and bidding and contractual documents; iii) ensure that an environmental management systems and plans, as indicated in approved IEE, is set up and functions properly; iv) be in charge of reporting on EMP implementation to the ADB. In order to achieve effectiveness in the implementation process, PMU will establish an environmental unit with at least two environmental staff to help with the environmental aspects of the project.
2	Safeguards Specialist (under PMU)	The Safeguards Specialist is responsible for monitoring the implementation of ADB’s environmental safeguard policies in all stages and processes of the project. Specifically, this specialist will be responsible for: i) reviewing the subproject Environmental Reports (Environmental parts of MPRs and QPRs) prepared by consultants to ensure the quality of the documents; ii) monitor and supervise EMP implementation; iii) monitor the responsibilities for EMP implementation monitoring and supervision according the TOR of the CSC; iv) reviewing reports submitted by the CSC and contractor; v) conducting periodic site checks; vi) advising PMU’s leaders on solutions to environmental issues of the project; and vii) assist in preparing environmental performance section on the progress and review reports to be submitted to the ADB.
3	National biodiversity specialist	Specialist will be responsible for documenting the project area's fauna values, re-assessing the project's potential impacts on biodiversity, reviewing and developing additional mitigation measures, and concluding whether impacts can be avoided, reduced, mitigated, and/or offset. Working with the other team members, design institutes, executing agency (EA) and ADB, the specialist will do the following during the project construction stages. (i) Review, revise, and implement the Biodiversity Action Plan mentioned in the project IEE (as Appendix). (ii) Visit all the proposed project sites (road alignment, camp sites, borrow areas, disposal sites, water source, and communities, IBA within the DMU) to be familiar with the project area and gain an adequate understanding of the key ecological issues. Specialist will be responsible for documenting the project area's fauna values, monitoring the implementation of mitigation measures di=one by the Contractor. Working with the other team members, executing agency (EA) and ADB, the specialist will do the following during the project construction stages. (i) Review, revise, and implement the Biodiversity Monitoring; (ii) Visit all the proposed project sites (road alignment, camp sites, borrow areas, disposal sites, water source, and communities) to be familiar with the project area and participate on preparation of Environmental reports mentioning the key ecological (flora/fauna) issues.
4	CSC	The Construction Supervision consultant (CSC) will be responsible for supervising and monitoring all construction activities and for ensuring that Contractor comply with the requirements of the contracts and the EMP. The CSC shall engage a sufficient number of qualified staff as per agreement (e.g. International Environmental Specialist, Local Environmental Safeguards specialist and National Biodiversity Specialist) with adequate environmental protection and construction project management knowledge to perform the required duties and supervise the Contractor’s performance. The National Environmental and Biodiversity Specialists shall be led by an International Environment Specialist (SES) who shall have extensive experience (at least 12 years’ experience is required) in environmental management, supervision and monitoring of construction projects and be familiar with the local environmental legislative requirements.
5	Contractor	Based on the approved EMP, the Contractor will be responsible for establishing a site-specific EMP for each construction site area, and submit the plan to CSC & PMU and CSC for review and approval before the commencement of construction. In addition, it is required that the Contractor get all permissions for construction (traffic control and diversion, excavation, labour safety, etc., before civil works, waste disposal, water supply, and borrow area) following current regulations. The contractor shall be required to appoint a competent individual as the contractor’s on-site Safety and Environment Officer (SEO), who will be responsible for monitoring the contractor’s compliance with the EMP requirements and the environmental specifications.

2.4.Project Activities During Current Reporting Period.

2.4.1.Project Progress

1. This 1^st Semi-Annual Environmental Monitoring report provides a review on how the environmental measures needed to prevent and/or mitigate negative environmental effects associated with the development project have been carried out by the Contractor. The report also provides a summary of the currently outstanding major and minor issues that need to be addressed.
2. The services of construction supervision consultants (SCS) will be provided for 24 calendar months for 25 km section, 18 calendar months for 4 km section and 12 calendar months (with a reduced number of personnel) during the defect identification period under both construction contracts. It means as of the end of December 2024, 10% of the contract period has passed since the commencement date
3. According to the submitted IPCs by Contractor the general summary of cumulative progress of items to the end of the reporting period was as follows:

Table 4.Progress Related to Program according to the IPCs submitted by the Contractor

No.	Construction Element		% Completed December.	Status
1	Preparation Works		0	Ongoing
2	Earthworks		0	Ongoing
3	Pavement		0	Ongoing
4	Drainage System, Culverts and Underpasses		0	Ongoing
5	Bridge works		0	Ongoing
6	Road Furniture and marking		0	Ongoing
7	Retaining Wall		0	Ongoing
8	Road Lighting		0	Ongoing
9	Utilities Diversion Work		0	Ongoing
10	Environment & Landscaping		0	Ongoing
11	Daywork		0	Ongoing
Total Progress		Actual	0	0
		Target	12	N/A

1. The project’s construction activities are ongoing on a continual basis following the construction schedule. However, out of the total, the overall progress achieved in connection to civil construction

Figure 5.Project construction activity

Photo 1. Topsoil Excavation (Common excavation)	Photo 2. Dump truck filling
Photo 3 Road construction warning signs	Photo 4 Installation of warning signs

2.4.2.Mobilization of Resources

1. At the time of this report preparation, about 20 of Dorkomlektsnab Plus LLC and 30 of New-tech Samarkand LLC workers were working on the site, as the site is in initial construction period; among the workers, all workers are local staff.
2. Contractor shall contract for various types of waste removal, and contracts have to also be awarded for chemical analysis of dust control, noise and vibration measurements in the project area with Karakalpakstan Sanitary and Epidemiological Department.
3. Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all sub-contractors abide by the conditions of the SSEMP. All sub-contractors are informed by the Contractor about Environment, Health, Safety, and Security (EHSS) requirements during contract negotiations. The sub-contractors are required to comply with all relevant laws and regulations on environmental protection and take precautionary measures to minimize any potential impact on the environment

Figure 6.Contractor's Organization chart

 

1. Contractor also has to conclude a contract with the State Unitary Enterprise "Toza Hudud” of the Kungrad district of Karakalpakstan for the transportation of waste generated by employees.
2. The Contractor also has to conclude the contracts with technical water supply taking from pipeline pathing through Amudarya and Beruniy districts. This water using for construction and maintenance purposes and for dust spreading prevention.
3. These contracts were not concluded by the Contractor by end of the December 2024.
4. For drinking water supply, the contractor buying the bottled water to the camp and construction site from local markets.
5. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring that all sub-contractors abide by the conditions of the EMP and SSEMP. All sub-contractors are informed by the Contractor about Environment, Health, Safety, and Security (EHSS) requirements during contract negotiations. The sub-contractors must comply with all relevant laws and regulations (local and ADB) on environmental protection and take precautionary measures to minimize any potential impact on the environment.

2.4.3.Environment Statutory Clearance

1. For the road project, the permits for use of earth sources are issued by the local geological authority but not provide to the Engineer. The Contractor needs to be considered those that apply to the works – road as well as ancillary facilities.
2. Contractor coordinated the use of the quarries with the Engineer and obtained general permits for road construction, which includes information on the presence of roadside quarries. the Contractor guarantees all disturbed lands will be restored after the completion of the design work.
3. Specifically, for Quarries and batching plants, the following is necessary to be considered:
   • To be established at a distance of at least 500 meters from settlements in order to prevent exposure of people to noise and dust.
   • Be outside the farmland area.
   • Be on state lands
   • Necessary permission will be obtained from the concerned authorities.

2.5.Description of Any Changes to Project Design

1. There are no changes to the agreed project design.

2.6.Description of Any Changes to Agreed Construction methods

1. There are no changes to the agreed construction methods.

3.ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD ACTIVITIES

3.1.General Description of Environmental Safeguard Activities

1. During the reporting period, there were no changes in the organizational structure of the project. The Supervision Consultant (SC) has supervised and monitored the project construction process. The SC includes Environment Specialists (International & National) as part of their team to oversee the overall implementation of the environmental management plan (EMP), environmental monitoring, and compliance with the environmental requirements of ADB. SC Environmental Specialists prepare environmental monitoring report required by PMU in August 2025 because them late engagement, and has to monitor the environmental compliance of the Construction Contractor.
2. Usually, environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) monitoring includes supervision and inspection of construction work sites, verification of permits, monitoring of compliance performance of contractor, instrumental environmental monitoring for noise and vibration, and air pollution, construction waste management, review of documentations, implementation of EMP and SSEMPs, review of environmental management and monitoring reports, and so on, undertaken by Contractor and monitored by the Supervision Engineer, such as:
   • Identify Environmental Sensitive receptors,
   • Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs),
   • Health and Safety issues,
   • Use of child labour and forced labour, firefighting equipment,
   • Extraction of stone/gravel from the quarry area,
   • First Aid Facilities in the construction site area,
   • Daily site inspections by the Contractor’s local Environmental Specialist and OHS Officer,
   • HIV/AIDS, H&S Training,
   • Inspections of camps and worksites by Supervision Engineer’s local Environmental Specialist,
   • Supervision of testing of environment parameters by the third-party Lab,
   • Solid waste management issue,
   • Complaint registers,
   • Training of supervisory staff and labour.
3. Due to the absence of a mobilized environmental specialist during the reporting period, the contractor did not ensure systematic implementation of environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) measures. As a result, key activities such as daily site inspections, proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), supervision of construction camps and worksites, verification of permits, environmental monitoring for air quality, noise and vibration, and solid waste management were either inconsistently performed or lacked adequate documentation. The Engineer had to provide direct instructions to ensure minimum compliance with the approved environmental safeguards (IEE, EMP, SSEMP). Although the contractor attempted to follow these instructions, the lack of dedicated environmental and OHS staff significantly affected the consistency and effectiveness of environmental performance, monitoring, and reporting.
4. The Engineer’s environmental team (international and national environmental specialists) prepares monthly and semi-annual environmental monitoring reports, which are submitted to the PMU. These reports provide a summary of the Engineer’s monitoring of all construction activities, including any observed environmental impacts.

3.2.Site Audits

1. Since Contractor has been executing works, IES and NESS of the CSC were not been hired for inspections during the reporting period.
2. An environmental audit for the elimination of non-compliances, was not conducted.
3. The ADB mission site visit and findings have not carried out for this period

3.3.Unanticipated Environmental Impacts or Risks

1. There were no unanticipated impacts identified during the reporting period

4.STATUS OF COMPLIANCE WITH COVENANTS

1. The status of compliance with environmental safeguards related to covenants in the Project’s Loan Agreements signed between the Republic of Uzbekistan and ADB on 03 December 2020 is summarized in and shows the status of compliance with ADB’s loan covenants[7] relating to the environment, health and safety during the monitoring period: January - June 2025

 

Table 5.Status of compliance with ADB’s Loan Covenants

Schedule	Para	Description	Remarks/Issues (Status of Compliance)
Schedule 7	para.7	Environment: The Committee for Roads shall ensure that the preparation, design, construction, implementation, operation and decommissioning of the Project and all Project facilities comply with (a) all applicable laws and regulations of it and the Borrower relating to environment, health and safety; (b) the Environmental Safeguards; and (c) all measures and requirements set forth in the IEE, the EMP, the BAP and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report.	Compiled. All applicable laws and regulations of the Republic of Uzbekistan and international best practices are applied. In the preparation, design, construction, implementation, operation and decommissioning of the Project and the Project Facilities comply with (i) all applicable laws and regulations of the Borrower relating to the environment, health, and safety; (ii) the Environment Safeguards; and (iii) all measures and requirements set forth in the IEE, the EMP, and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report.
Schedule 7	para.11	Human and Financial Resources to Implement Safeguards Requirements: The Committee for Roads shall make available the necessary budgetary and human resources to fully implement the EMP, the BAP and the LARP.	Non-Compiled. PMU hasn’t designated a full-time Environmental Safeguard Specialist to manage and coordinate the contractor. The tasks of the unit must include but are not limited to supervision for overall compliance with ADB SPS (2009) requirements, preparation and submission of environmental monitoring reports and updating the IEE during the construction/operation phase in case of technical design changes or unanticipated impacts. PMU has hired the CSC who ensures safeguard compliance of civil works – with particular emphasis on the monitoring of the implementation of SSEMP and related aspects of the Project. But the Environmental Specialists are not engaged yet.
Schedule 7	para.12	Safeguards-Related Provisions in Bidding Documents and Works Contracts The Committee for Roads shall ensure that all bidding documents and contracts for Works contain provisions that require contractors to:(a) comply with the measures relevant to the contractor set forth in the IEE, the EMP, the BAP and the LARP (to the extent they concern impacts on affected people during construction), and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report;(b) make available a budget for all such environmental and social measures;(c) provide the Committee for Roads with a written notice of any unanticipated environmental, resettlement or indigenous peoples risks or impacts that arise during construction, implementation or operation of the Project that were not considered in the IEE, the EMP, the BAP and the LARP;(d) adequately record the condition of roads, agricultural land and other infrastructure prior to starting to transport materials and construction; and(e) reinstate pathways, other local infrastructure, and agricultural land to at least their pre-project condition upon the completion of construction.	Non-compiled. EMP was included in the bidding documents and work contracts. After conducting the procurement and selecting the Contractor and Engineer, EMP was included in the contract agreements between EA and Engineer and EA and Contractor. The contract between the State Committee for Roads and Contractor includes detailed terms and conditions regarding the safeguard actions in accordance with the IEE and EMP, which were included in the bidding documents. Sub- clauses also include the Contractor’s schedule of submitting reports to the CSC and the State Committee for Roads. Contract Sub-clauses between EA and Contractor include detailed terms and conditions regarding the safeguard actions in accordance with IEE and EMP, which were included in the bidding documents and work contracts. The SSEMP for this project has not been developed and cleared by the CSC before commencement of construction works.
Schedule 7	Para.13	Safeguards Monitoring and Reporting The Committee for Roads shall do the following: (a) submit semi-annual Safeguards Monitoring Reports to ADB and disclose relevant information from such reports to affected persons promptly upon submission;(b) if any unanticipated environmental and/or social risks and impacts arise during construction, implementation or operation of the Project that was not considered in the IEE, the EMP, the BAP and the LARP, promptly inform ADB of the occurrence of such risks or impacts, with a detailed description of the event and proposed corrective action plan; (c) no later than the Effective Date, engage qualified and experienced external experts or qualified NGOs under a selection process and terms of reference acceptable to ADB, to verify information produced through the Project monitoring process, and facilitate the carrying out of any verification activities by such external experts; and (d)          report any actual or potential breach of compliance with the measures and requirements set forth in the EMP, the BAP or the LARP promptly after becoming aware of the breach.	Compiled. Project information is available in Uzbek, Russian and English as well. Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring Report has been prepared in August 2025 and it’s subject to be disclosed at ADB’s website.
Schedule 7	Para. 14	Prohibited List of Investments The Committee for Roads shall ensure that no proceeds of the Loan are used to finance any activity included in the list of prohibited investment activities provided in Appendix 5 of the SPS.	Compiled. The Committee for Roads ensured this covenant and in the future that no proceeds of the Loan are used to finance any activity included in the list of prohibited investment activities provided in Appendix 5 of the SPS.
Schedule 7	Para.15	Labour Standard, Health and Safety The Committee for Roads shall ensure that the core labour standards and the Borrower’s applicable laws and regulations are complied with during Project implementation. The Committee for Roads shall include specific provisions in the bidding documents and contracts financed by ADB under the Project requiring that the contractors, among other things: (a) comply with the Borrower’s applicable labour law and regulations and incorporate applicable workplace occupational safety norms; (b) do not use child labour; (c) do not discriminate against workers in respect of employment and occupation; (d) do not use forced labour; (e) allow freedom of association and effectively recognize the right to collective bargaining; and (f) disseminate, or engage appropriate service providers to disseminate, information on the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, to the employees of contractors engaged under the Project and to members of the local communities surrounding the Project area, particularly women.	Compiled. Ongoing process. The Committee for Roads is ensuring this covenant with the help of CSC. The Committee for Roads and the Consultants employed under the Project will ensure and monitor the fulfilment of the health and labour standards by contractor under contracts for Works.

5.COMPLIANCE WITH ADB PROJECT ADMINISTRATION MANUAL (PAM)

1. In line with Government and ADB policies and procedures, the Project Administration Manual (PAM) were developed and disclosed in August 2023 describes the essential administrative and management requirements to implement the project on time, and within budget, for which PAM is mandatory and serves as the main document describing implementation details. The project authority keeps in compliance dealing with the following issues mentioned in the Project Administrative Manual (PAM), August 2023.
2. Table below shows the status of compliance with ADB’s PAM relating to the environment, health and safety during the monitoring period: July - December 2024

Table 6.Status of compliance with ADB’s PAM

Details in line with PAM, August 2023	Compliance Status	Remarks
Semi-annual Environmental Monitoring reports that cover emerging Environmental-related issues or any additional and new environmental impacts during the project implementation will be prepared and submitted to ADB for review and disclosure. If any unanticipated impacts and risks arise during construction, PMU will promptly ADB with a detailed description of the event and proposed corrective action plan.	Ongoing	In compliance with ADB Safeguards Policy, PMU will submit Sami-annual Environmental Monitoring Report to ADB twice each year. This is the 1st SAEMR to fulfil this point.
The IEE/EMP will be updated to account for any additional or new environmental impacts and relevant corrective actions.	Complied	Up till now, no change
The Borrower, through CR, shall ensure that the preparation, design, construction, implementation, operation and decommissioning of the Project comply with (a) all applicable laws and regulations of the Borrower relating to the environment, health, and safety; (b) the Environment Safeguards; (c) the EARF; and (d) all measures and requirements set forth in the IEE, the EMP, and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report	Complied	The preparation, design, construction, implementation, operation and decommissioning of the Project and the Project Facilities comply with (i) all applicable laws and regulations of the Borrower relating to the environment, health, and safety; (ii) the Environment Safeguards; and (iii) all measures and requirements set forth in the IEE, the EMP, and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report.
The Borrower shall ensure or cause the Avtoyulinvest Agency to ensure that all bidding documents and contracts for Works contain provisions that require contractors to: (a) comply with the measures relevant to the contractor set forth in the IEE, the EMP and the RP (to the extent they concern impacts on affected people during construction), and any corrective or preventative actions set forth in a Safeguards Monitoring Report; (b) make available a budget for all such environmental and social measures; (c) provide the Borrower with a written notice of any unanticipated environmental, resettlement or indigenous peoples risks or impacts that arise during construction, implementation or operation of the Project that were not considered in the IEE, the EMP and the RP; (d) adequately record the condition of roads, agricultural land and other infrastructure prior to starting to transport materials and construction; and (e) reinstate pathways, other local infrastructure, and agricultural land to at least their pre-project condition upon the completion of construction.	Compiled	The contract between the State Committee for Roads and Contractor includes detailed terms and conditions regarding the safeguard actions in accordance with the IEE and EMP, which were included in the bidding documents. SSEMP was developed by Contractor to the date of this report.
A project-specific grievance redress mechanism (GRM) will be established by co-opting the country legal requirements to receive and facilitate the resolution of project-affected persons’ concerns, complaints and grievances about the social and environmental performance at the project level.	Non-Compiled	GRM was not established at the PMU level, and at the project level too.
The GRM will aim to provide a time-bound and transparent mechanism to voice and resolve social and environmental concerns linked with the project. The project-specific GRM is not intended to bypass the government’s own redress process, rather, it is intended to address project-affected people’s concerns and complaints promptly, making it readily accessible to all segments of affected persons and is scaled to the risks and impacts of the project. Hence, depending on the nature and significance of the grievances or complaints, the GRM will comprise procedures to address grievances at the local level (through the Khokimyat, the Contractor, the Engineer or the PMU).	Complied
The GRC will be in place immediately after the project is approved. The GRC will continue to function, for the benefit of the affected persons, during the entire life of the project, including the defects liability period.	Compiled	GRM is also in place at the project and local levels. The complaint register is well maintained at different places.
More serious complaints, which cannot be addressed at the local level, will be forwarded to the central level. The affected communities are free to refer their complaints to the courts at any time during the GRM process. All costs involved in resolving the complaints (meetings, consultations, communication and reporting/information dissemination) will be borne by the Project.	On going	Community access to GRM is prioritized. Not a single complaint was received from the community during this reporting period
Providing information to project-affected people and other stakeholders. ADB works closely with its borrowers and clients to ensure two-way communications about ADB projects with project-affected people and other stakeholders. This is done within a timeframe, using relevant languages, and in a way that allows project-affected people and other stakeholders7	Compiled	It will be a continuous process throughout the implementation period. From time-to-time PMU, CSC and contractor arrange meetings with the local community and discuss the matters in local languages (directly or through a translator)
Documentation of Grievances: The complaint/grievance will be redressed in 6 weeks’ time and written communication will be sent to the complainant. A complaint register will be maintained both at PMU, with details of a complaint lodged, date of personal hearing, action taken and date of communication sent to the complainant. Further, all stakeholders will have access to ADB’s Accountability Mechanism12. However, they are expected to exhaust the project-level grievance mechanism and the republics' inbuild grievance system before writing to the bank's complaint resolution mechanism.[8]	On going	The complaints received from the community will be registered for taking in to account and following the detail given in the ToR of the GRC and GRM for redress of the grievance.
The Committee for Roads shall ensure that the core labour standards and the Borrower’s applicable laws and regulations are complied with during implementation and contracts financed under the Project requiring that the contractors, another provider of goods and services and their subcontractors: comply with the Borrower’s applicable labour law and regulations and incorporate applicable workplace occupational safety norms; do not use child labour; do not discriminate against workers in respect of employment and occupation by providing, inter alia, equal pay for men and women or people from different ethnic groups for work of equal value, and to the extent possible, employing women and local people, including disadvantaged people, living in the Project area, provided that the requirements for efficiency are adequately met; do not use forced labour; allow freedom of association and effectively recognize the right to collective bargaining; and disseminate, or engage appropriate service providers to disseminate, information on the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, to the employees of contractors engaged in the Project and to members of the local communities surrounding the Project area, particularly women.	Ongoing	The Committee for Roads and the Consultants employed under the Project will ensure and monitor the fulfilment of the health and safety, workplace safety, workers discrimination, forced labour and other labour standards by contractor under contracts for Works.

 

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