MANILA, Aug. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance (TA) grant of 2 million US dollars to prepare a road development master plan and improvement project that will help rehabilitate Afghanistan's road network.

    The master plan will identify the main road systems required tolink major markets, production centers, and development opportunities in the country and the subregion. Based on this, theTA will draw up a road investment program for the next 5-10 years,the Manila-based ADB said Tuesday in a statement.

    The TA, to be carried out over 11 months to September 2005, will also prepare a feasibility study for a high priority road improvement project suitable for ADB-financing, the statement said.     

    "Improving transport linkages within Afghanistan and with neighboring countries will promote economic development and reducepoverty by improving access to markets and services," said HiroakiYamaguchi, an ADB transport specialist.

    Roads are the principal means of transport for domestic and international traffic in Afghanistan. However, much of the country's road infrastructure has been damaged in more than two decades of conflict.

    Wrecked bridges and tunnels cause bottlenecks to the movement of people and goods, increasing significantly travel time and vehicle operating costs.

    In an international conference in Berlin on Afghanistan's future held earlier this year, the ADB pledged 1 billion dollars in loans and grants to the country for 2005-2008. Enditem