KATHMANDU: Japan has agreed to extend a grant assistance of around US$11 million to Nepal for the execution of the Project for the Improvement of Community Access for improving accessibility of areas adjoining the Sindhuli Road, Embassy of Japan stated in a press statement today. The assistance has been provided in response to a request made by Nepal government, it added. Since the Sindhuli Road has already brought about considerable socio-economic benefits to local people, the Community Access Project will also be able to provide improved connectivity for the nearby villages, said the statement. The press statement also mentioned that the objective of the project is also to reduce poverty in the project area by supporting social stability in Nepal. Under the project, a total of 35 river-crossing structures will be constructed on 11 rural roads in five districts, namely, Mahotari, Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Kavrepalanchok and Sindhupalchok in the Central Region of Nepal. These river-crossings structures are to be built at high priority places, where local people are stranded in their villages during the rainy season due to strong river-currents caused by the flood and flow of debris. The statement also mentioned that around 325,000 people from nearby villages in the five districts would be directly benefited from the project.