In photos: road project aims to connect communities across Central Asia

Road transport is sometimes the only option in the region, given its alpine topography, and is also favoured for moving textiles, clothing and other consumer goods, as well as time-sensitive items such as fruits and vegetables. With support from the programme, more than 56km of roads in Kyrgyzstan and 70km in Tajikistan will be rehabilitated by 2020. [World Bank Group]

"Alpine topography and uneven soil complicate construction works. But the quality of the road will be high," said Mitko Cholakov, a road engineer from Kyrgyzstan. [World Bank Group]

The CARs programme aims to have important social and economic impacts in Central Asia. [World Bank Group]

The Dadabayev family, pictured here, owns a small road café near the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. "There will be many tourists, if the road is good," said Ms. Dadabayeva. [World Bank Group]

During summer holidays, schoolchildren in Batken Province, Kyrgyzstan, make pocket money by selling apricots to passing truck drivers. [World Bank Group]

"Having no roads means a lot of dust, and hence there are many instances of young children suffering from bronchial asthma," said Dr. Mirbek Kasymov, the department head of the Tuberculosis Combat Centre, Batken Province, Kyrgyzstan. He hopes for improvements in the health of the local population after the road is built. [World Bank Group]

Nazirakhon Umatova, principal of Kindergarten No. 16 in Isfara, Tajikistan, is very pleased to have a new road, which has made it much easier and faster for children to go to school. "The old roads were narrow, uneven, with potholes. Both drivers and pedestrians had difficulties navigating them," she said. [World Bank Group]

"Thanks to the project, we will have a flood protection system, so we are already feeling so much safer," said Yokubjon Mamajonov, head of the Kalachai Mazor community in Isfara, Tajikistan. [World Bank Group]

Asangodjayev, a Kyrgyz truck driver, appreciates the modern technology, like the axle load control, being used on the new roads. "It's good that the scale is automatic. We pass very quickly, without delay, in less than five minutes," he said. [World Bank Group]

CARs is part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Co-operation (CAREC) Programme and is parallel-financed with other development partners. [World Bank Group]

More than 10 million residents of the valley and more than 3 million people in other areas of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan look to benefit from improved connectivity stemming from the project. [World Bank Group]