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Rural Roads, Sustainable Development and Maintenance of People in Desert Regions; Case Study: South Khorasan Province-East of Iran

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Abstract (2. Language): 
Investment in rural roads is believed by many scientists and experts to be a solution to economic and social development problems in rural areas. This perception is indeed true as there is a link between transport and sustainable development that is not always acknowledged. In this article author sets out to show that investment in rural roads can be an effective approach for sustainable development. This is a possible if the engineers and planners at program and project levels meet certain preconditions. These preconditions are requiring engineers to review their design standards so as to allow the implementation of rural road infrastructure projects by more efficient construction methods. Inadequate rural transport infrastructure and lack of mobility pose important constraints to rural development in noog oa hpup oeimt eovmgsipo oved oo tsom. Since approximately 30 percent of people in Iran live in rural areas and are mostly engaged in agriculture, a solution has to be found to this problem, such a solution must be agriculture based. Poor transport conditions are generally regarded as one of the main constraints against rural development. Without access to jobs, health, education and other amenities, the quality of life suffers, and without access to resources and markets, growth stagnates and poverty reduction cannot be sustained. Since 1970, the World Bank has spent 13-16% of its total investment expenditure on transport investment with a marked bias towards the construction of rural roads. The exclusive focus on roads and motorized vehicles has recently come under criticism because it neglects the transport needs of the rural household. Many researches in rural transport services now believe that the plans, projects and existing policies in the transport sector do nothing or little accessibility to services and opportunities; as such investing in rural roads that provide basic access will always have a high economic impact. The challenge is to create an environment around these investments that will improve the income of the rural communities as well their employment prospects. Finally some recommendations on how policy makers and planners can meet this challenge are enumerated. Author finally present some approaches and alternatives for rural people in conditions of south-khorasan province in east of Iran.
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