ACCELERATING TRANSPORT AND TRADE CONNECTIVITY IN EASTERN SOUTH ASIA (ACCESS) PROJECT - BHUTAN - Gelephu-Tareythang Road - ESIA Executive Summary (For Disclosure and Consultation)

Jul 19, 2026

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) executive summary for the Gelephu-Tareythang Road under the Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) Bhutan project. Prepared by Bhutan’s Department of Surface Transport (DoST) within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT), it aligns with Good International Industry Practices and the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework. The summary explains the project objective, components and subcomponents, and outlines the ESIA’s disclosure purpose for potentially project-affected people and stakeholders, while noting that disclosure is not a final clearance. It further references an ongoing due diligence review and identifies the structure covering risks, impacts, management planning, and consultation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages33

Reading Time1 h 23 min

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Applicable Legislation to the Project

Applicable World Bank Standards

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

PROJECT ALTERNATIVES

BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Physical Environment

Biodiversity Baseline

Socio-Economic Baseline

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS

ESS 1. Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts

ESS 2. Labor and Working Conditions

ESS 3. Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management

ESS 4. Community Health and Safety

ESS 5. Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement

ESS 6. Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources

ESS 7. Indigenous Peoples/ Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities

ESS 8. Cultural Heritage

ESS 10. Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure

CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP)

Institutional Arrangements

BUDGET FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ESIA

PROJECT TIMELINE

Public Disc losure Authorized ACCELERATING TRANSPORT AND TRADE CONNECTIVITY IN EASTERN SOUTH ASIA (ACCESS) PROJECT, BHUTAN, GELEPHU-TAREYTHANG ROAD ESIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) Project, Bhutan Gelephu-Tareythang Road Department of Surface Transport (DoST), Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) , Royal Government of Bhutan DATE November 22, 2024 Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report(ESIA)– Executive Summary (For Disclosure and Consultation) Disclaimer: This Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Gelephu-Tareythang Road forms part of the environmental and social (E&S) due diligence for the Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) Bhutan Project. The ESIA was prepared by the Department of Surface Transport (DoST), Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Royal Government of Bhutan, and follows Good International Industry Practices (GIIP) and the Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) . The review of this ESIA is a key part of the Bank’s due diligence process and is currently ongoing. This ESIA may still contain gaps to fully address all pertinent E&S issues in the project. Any gapsin this ESIA will be filled through supplemental studies, assessments, and/or plans that will be completed in a reasonable timeframe to ensure compliance with the ESF. For the benefit of potentially project affected people (PAP) and other interested stakeholders, and in alignment with the Bank’s Policy on Access to Information this ESIA is being disclosed as soon as it became available. The disclosure of this ESIA, however, should not be considered asa final clearance of the ESIA by the World Bank. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. INTRODUCTION 3 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 4 Applicable Legislation to the Project 4 Applicable World Bank Standards 4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 5 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES 7 BASELINE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS 8 Physical Environment 9 Biodiversity Baseline 10 Socio-Economic Baseline 13 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL RISKS AND IMPACTS 15 ESS 1. Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts 15 ESS 2. Labor and Working Conditions 18 ESS 3. Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention and Management 19 ESS 4. Community Health and Safety 21 ESS 5. Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement 22 ESS 6. Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources 22 ESS 7. Indigenous Peoples/ Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities 24 ESS 8. Cultural Heritage 24 ESS 10. Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure 25 CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT 28 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT PLAN (ESMP) 29 Institutional Arrangements 30 BUDGET FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ESIA 32 PROJECT TIMELINE 32 INTRODUCTION The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB), with World Bank financial support, is preparing the Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) Bhutan project as part of the ACCESS Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach (MPA) . The ACCESS Bhutan Project’s objective is to enhance the efficiency and resilience of trade and transport along selected corridors in Bhutan. The ACCESS Bhutan Project has the following three components: • Component 1 - Digital Systems for Trade: This component will provide digital solutions and automation to eliminate manual and paper-based processes. It includes the four subcomponents. Subcomponent 1.1 implements a National Single Window (NSW) to consolidate certificate, license, and permit services into a single platform. Subcomponent 1.2 strengthens digital enablers, including integrating national digital IDs, improving data accuracy with a single source of truth (SSOT), and supporti

FAQs

What is the purpose of the ESIA executive summary for the ACCESS Bhutan project?

It provides an ESIA executive summary for the Gelephu-Tareythang Road, disclosed to support transparency and stakeholder engagement, while clarifying that disclosure is not final ESIA clearance by the World Bank.

Who prepared the ESIA and under what standards is it aligned?

The ESIA was prepared by Bhutan’s Department of Surface Transport (DoST), Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT) with Royal Government of Bhutan, following Good International Industry Practices and the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework.

What are the key components of the ACCESS Bhutan project described in the document?

The project includes (1) digital systems for trade, (2) green and resilient infrastructure with road construction and related studies and biodiversity measures, and (3) institutional and policy strengthening through technical assistance and capacity building.

Jul 19, 2026

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