Guideline for preparation of
Detailed Project Report
(Road and Bridge Projects)
Department of Roads
Ministry of Works and Human Settlement
April 2022 |Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. DEFINITION ............................................................................................................................................ 1
2. WHEN DO WE REQUIRE DPR ............................................................................................................ 1
3. ACTIVITIES REQUIRED TO BE CARRIED OUT IN PREPARING A DPR FOR ROAD OR
BRIDGE WORK ........................................................................................................................................... 1
3.1 Feasibility Study.................................................................................................................................. 1
3.2 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) including Socio-economic Analysis............................ 1
3.3 Geotechnical Study ............................................................................................................................. 2
3.4 Survey and Design .............................................................................................................................. 2
3.5 Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Cost Estimate ..................................................................................... 2
3.6 Project Execution Plan ........................................................................................................................ 2
4. CONTENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN A DPR ...................................................................................... 3
4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3
4.2 Feasibility Study.................................................................................................................................. 3
4.3 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) including Socio-economic Analysis............................ 3
4.4 Geotechnical Study ............................................................................................................................. 3
4.5 Design and Drawing .......................................................................................................................... 4
4.6 Technical Specification (TS) ............................................................................................................... 4
4.7 Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Cost Estimate ..................................................................................... 4
4.8 Project Execution Plan ........................................................................................................................ 4
4.9 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................................................. 4
4.10 Annexure ............................................................................................................................................ 4
5. SUMMARY OF DPR CONTENTS FOR VARIOUS TYPE OF PROJECTS .................................. 4
5.1 New Road Construction .................................................................................................................... 5
5.2 Road Improvement through Widening ........................................................................................... 5
5.3 Road Improvement through Pavement ........................................................................................... 6
5.4 Construction of Bridge ....................................................................................................................... 6
6. WHO MAKES THE DPR........................................................................................................................ 7
7. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PREPARE A DPR ....................................................................... 7
7.1 New Road Construction .................................................................................................................. 10
7.2 Road Improvement through Widening ......................................................................................... 10
7.3 Road Improvement through Pavement ......................................................................................... 11
7.4 Bridge Construction.......................................................................................................................... 11
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1. DEFINITION
As per the resolution of the 10th Engineers, Architects and Planners’ conference, DPR
must be prepared for all projects whose project cost exceeds Nu. 50 million as well as
other important projects even if their project cost is lesser than Nu. 50 million.
2. WHEN DO WE REQUIRE DPR
Is DPR Required for
Important projects with Regular works with
Projects with cost more
cost less than Nu. 50 project cost less than
than Nu. 50 million?
million? Nu. 50 million?
Yes Yes No
Construction of new national highways, permanent bridges, bridges requiring detailed
geotechnical studies, major slope protection works and other road and bridge works that
are first of their kind (introducing new construction technology to the country) are
considered important projects for the purpose of preparation of DPR.
3. ACTIVITIES REQUIRED TO BE CARRIED OUT IN PREPARING A DPR FOR
ROAD OR BRIDGE WORK
3.1 Feasibility Study
A feasibility study has to be carried out for any new construction whether it be for a road
or a bridge. They are done mainly to see the feasibility of the project and also, to choose
the best option for the construction. A feasibility study generally involves desktop
studies, map studies and reconnaissance surveys on the ground. They need to be done as
per the Manual for Feasibility Study. After the study, a relevant report needs to be
produced.
3.2 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) including Socio-economic Analysis
Before carrying out any project, it is very important to know the environmental impact of
the project. In addition, it is also very important to know the socio-economic impacts of
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the project. Therefore, either a detailed EIA which includes a socio-economic analysis or a
preliminary environmental assessment (Initial Environmental Examination, IEE) and a
socio-economic assessment must be carried out based on the size of the project and the
requirement of the National Environment Commission of Bhutan (NEC) to provide
Environmental Clearance. If a full-fledged EIA is carried out, it should be done as per the
Environmental Assessment Guideline for Roads and Highways, 2012 by following due
procedures of the NEC.
3.3 Geotechnical Study
A geotechnical study shall also be done during the planning of any project to identify
and avoid problematic unstable areas as well as to plan mitigation measures for the
expected geotechnical instabilities. The extent of the study shall be decided by the size of
the projects as well as the condition of the project location.
3.4 Survey and Design
Detailed design and drawing are the most important document in the DPR. Just as the
DPR is the blueprint for the entire project, detailed design and drawings are the blueprint
for the structures to be constructed. For the detailed design and drawing of a road, a
detailed topographical survey to the utmost accuracy along with a proper soil test for
CBR and thorough traffic analysis must be done.
Using information from the site visits and the survey data detailed design of road
geometry must be carried out. The designed geometry must be safe, comfortable, durable
and have the most benefit to the users as well as to the nearby communities. The
geometric designs should also include the locations and design drawings of walls and
cross drainages. Similarly, using the traffic analysis, site visit findings and the CBR data,
a durable pavement with adequate design life should be designed.
After the design is completed, relevant drawings and reports must be produced.
3.5 Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Cost Estimate
As the DPR is also used for securing funds, it is of utmost importance that a detailed BoQ
and estimate are prepared. This must be done in reference to the design drawings by
using realistic and relevant market rates and adequate rate analysis.
3.6 Project Execution Plan
One main purpose of the DPR is to guide the project execution. Therefore, it is a must
that an adequate project execution plan must be prepared. For the execution plan, a
detailed analysis of the work scope of the project must be carried out to decide on how
the project will be implemented. The implementation plan shall include all the details
starting from the project execution mode (contractual or departmental), the number of
packages and the contract durations. It should also include a project implementation
timeline that specifies by when the works should be tendered out when the works should
start on the ground, how much progress should be made in consecutive months and a
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fund utilization plan for the project. The implementation plan shall also identify the
requirement of project implementation units.
In addition, the execution plan should also identify all risks to the timely project
implementation (delays caused by tendering process, contractual problems, reasons
beyond control, etc.) and suggest mitigation plans as well as a way forwards if incase
such cases occur so that the overall project can be implemented on time.
4. CONTENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN A DPR
Following is the list of content/chapters that need to incorporated into the DPR:
4.1 Introduction
The introduction of the DPR must lay out the project background, objectives, scope of the
work and map images. It should highlight the possible benefits of the project and also the
rationale behind preparing the DPR.
4.2 Feasibility Study
The chapter on feasibility study shall be included in the DPR, only if an actual feasibility
study has been carried out for the project. This chapter, in brief, must describe the
methodology adopted to study the feasibility of the project and the findings of the
feasibility study. For roads, this chapter should also highlight the available alignment
options, the selected route and the rationale behind the selection of the route. As a
detailed explanation, the report of the feasibility study should be attached as an annexure
to the DPR.
4.3 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) including Socio-economic Analysis
This chapter is mandatory for all types of DPR. In the case where a detailed EIA is not
done, this chapter must describe all the possible positive and negative socio-economic
and environmental impacts of implementing the project.
Where the EIA has been done, this chapter must briefly describe the methodology
adopted for the environmental and socio-economic studies such as the types of data
collected and the timeline of the study. It should also briefly highlight the possible
positive and negative impacts of the project on the environment and on the nearby
communities. The mitigation measures for the negative impacts should also be briefly
highlighted in this chapter. In addition, the EIA report should also be attached to the
DPR as an annexure.
4.4 Geotechnical Study
This chapter in the DPR must describe the existing geotechnical state of the project
location and the locations where the geotechnical failures are expected. A summary of the
mitigation measures for the projected failures should also be listed in this chapter. If a
full-fledged Geotechnical Investigation is done, the geotechnical report should also be
attached to the annexure.
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4.5 Design and Drawing
This chapter of the DPR must highlight the type and methodology of the survey
conducted, the type of soil tests carried out and the assumptions for the traffic analysis.
Then the methodology of the geometric design and the pavement design shall also be
mentioned. The standards adopted as well as the assumptions made during the design
shall be highlighted in this section. Finally, all the produced design drawings and reports
shall be attached as an annexure to the DPR.
4.6 Technical Specification (TS)
The TS is one very important guiding document during project execution as well as
monitoring of projects during the implementation time. Thus, this chapter in the DPR
must specify the version of the TS applicable for the project. The full TS shall be attached
as an annexure.
4.7 Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Cost Estimate
This chapter of the DPR must highlight a brief summary of the BoQ and the cost
estimates. Further, write-ups on the BoQ, the rate analysis and the assumptions made for
the cost estimate shall be included in this chapter. The detailed BoQ and Cost Estimate
shall be an annexure to the DPR.
4.8 Project Execution Plan
This chapter of the DPR must specify the detailed project execution plan. They include
the project execution mode, the contract package size, the contract duration, the project
implementation timeline, the budget utilization plans and also the requirements to
execute the project such as project implementation units. It should also include risks to
the timely project implementation and mitigation and the way forwards to complete the
project on time.
4.9 Conclusion and Recommendations
The DPR shall be concluded with the overall summary of the project and relevant
recommendations and the points that should be kept in mind during the execution shall
be included in this section.
4.10 Annexure
The DPR must have the annexures that were mentioned above.
5. SUMMARY OF DPR CONTENTS FOR VARIOUS TYPE OF PROJECTS
All kind of project doesn’t need to include every content mentioned in section 5. They
may be included as per requirement. The following is a checklist of requirements in a
DPR for various projects:
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5.1 New Road Construction
✓ Introduction
✓ Feasibility Study
✓ Environment and Social Impact Assessment
✓ Geotechnical Study
✓ Design and Drawings
✓ Technical Specifications
✓ BoQ and Cost Estimates
✓ Project Execution Plan
✓ Conclusion
✓ Annexures- Feasibility Report, EIA Report*, Geotechnical
investigation Report*, Design Drawings and Reports, Technical
Specifications, BoQ and Cost Estimates.
*EIA Report and Geotechnical Investigation Report shall be only attached to
the annexure if a full-fledged study has been done. The requirement of full-
fledged study is depended on the project size and the project location.
5.2 Road Improvement through Widening
✓ Introduction
x Feasibility Study
✓ Environment and Social Impact Assessment
✓ Geotechnical Study
✓ Design and Drawings
✓ Technical Specifications
✓ BoQ and Cost Estimates
✓ Project Execution Plan
✓ Conclusion
✓ Annexures- Geotechnical investigation Report*, Design Drawings and
Reports, Technical Specifications, BoQ and Cost Estimates.
*Geotechnical Investigation Report shall be only attached to the annexure if
a full-fledged study has been done. The requirement of full-fledged study is
depended on the size and the project type.
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5.3 Road Improvement through Pavement
✓ Introduction
x Feasibility Study
✓ Environment and Social Impact Assessment**
x Geotechnical Study
✓ Design and Drawings*
✓ Technical Specifications
✓ BoQ and Cost Estimates
✓ Project Execution Plan
✓ Conclusion
✓ Annexures- Design Drawings and Reports, Technical Specifications,
BoQ and Cost Estimates.
*For alignment design drawings are not required, hence a detailed
topographical survey is not required.
** EIA as per the project requirement, (Not Mandatory)
5.4 Construction of Bridge
✓ Introduction
✓ Feasibility Study
✓ Environment and Social Impact Assessment **
✓ Geotechnical Study
✓ Design and Drawings
✓ Technical Specifications
✓ BoQ and Cost Estimates
✓ Project Execution Plan
✓ Conclusion
✓ Annexures- Feasibility Report, Geotechnical investigation Report*,
Design Drawings and Reports, Technical Specifications, BoQ and
Cost Estimates.
*While preliminary geotechnical investigation is required for all bridges, the
detailed study is required for only major bridges
** EIA as per the project requirement, (Not Mandatory)
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6. WHO MAKES THE DPR
The DPR includes different types of studies based on the work scope, the project site as
well as the project size. Therefore, a DPR preparation must involve an adequate team.
The preparation of the DPR for road or bridge development should be led by a Team
Leader who is a full-fledged Engineer. The Team Leader can be anyone related to the
project in some way or another. He/She may be a Site Engineer or a Design Engineer or a
Construction Engineer or a Geotech Engineer or a Bridge Engineer who is involved in the
project.
For the DPR the feasibility study needs to be done by a team of Design Engineer, Geotech
Engineer, Surveyors, Site Engineers, Bridge Engineer and relevant officials from the
forest department and the local government.
As for the Environmental Studies, if a detailed EIA is required by the nature of the
project, then it must be carried out by an Environmental Specialist. If only an IEE is
required, then it can be carried out by a relevant Engineer.
The geotechnical study needs to be carried out by a full-fledged Geotechnical Engineer if
a detailed study is required. Otherwise, it can also be carried out by a relevant Engineer
who has some experience in slope studies.
The topographical survey for the DPR must be carried out by an actual Surveyor. In the
case of bridges, the survey can also be carried out by Engineers.
Then the field test especially the CBR test must be carried out by the Material Engineer or
by an experienced Lab Technician.
The Road Designer is responsible for carrying out road geometry and pavement design
and preparing relevant drawings and reports to guide the estimation as well as
construction. Similarly, it is the Bridge Designer who carries out the bridge design and
prepares relevant drawings and reports including Bar Bending Schedules.
With the designs and drawings completed, the BoQ and estimate for the project should
be prepared. The preparation of estimates shall be done in collaboration between the
relevant Site Engineers and Construction Engineers supported by the relevant Design
Engineer and Engineer leading the preparation of the DPR.
The project execution plan must be prepared by the particular Team Leader of the DPR
preparation team with support from the Site Engineer and Construction Engineer.
Finally, the DPR needs to be presented to the Departmental Coordination Committee and
endorsed by the committee.
7. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PREPARE A DPR
Preparation of a DPR involves a couple of different activities and these activities differ
according to the type of project and the project size. Therefore, there is a no one for all
formula that can calculate the time required for preparing a DPR. However, with few
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DPRs being made in recent years, there is a rough idea of how long each activity in
preparing a DPR takes. The table below gives a general idea and this table shall be used
to determine the time required to prepare a DPR.
Table 1: Guide for fixing duration for preparing DPR for Road Activities
SN Activity Duration Required Unit Remarks
1 Feasibility Study
Usually required for New Road
Is a Feasibility Study Yes 27+ (TL/3)+ 0.2(TL/3) Days
Construction
Required?
No 0 Day
Note:
a) 27 days includes 5 days for map studies, 10 days for mobilization for feasibility, 5 days for moving
to and from site and 7 days for report preparation
b) TL= Sum of lengths of all proposed road alignment options in Km
c) Assumed an average of 3 Km coverage per day during site visit based on past experiences
d) 20% has been added for weather consideration during site visit
2 Mobilization for Detailed Study
Mobilization is required to coordinate
Mobilization Period 20 Days necessary equipment as well as labors
and other staffs
3 Environmental Studies
Yes 13 Months
Is a detailed EIA
An IEE shall be prepared by an
required? No 10 Days
engineer who visits the site
Note:
e) 13 months have been provided to prepare an EIA since the EIA needs to capture all 4 seasons and a
month for document preparation
4 Geotechnical Studies
Usually required if permanent
Yes (30+10(u-1)) +30 Days landslide area falls on the proposed
Is a detailed alignment
Geotech Study
Required? A brief Geotech study and report by an
No 10 Days
engineer who visited the site
Note:
f) u = No. of unstable areas
g) 30 days for collecting samples and carrying out tests for one slide areas and additional 10 days for
every additional slide has been assumed for calculating time required
h) 30 additional days are provided for analysis, recommendation and report preparation
i) Usually for geotechnical assessment, a time frame cannot be fixed since the assessment depends
highly on the magnitude of the landslide. However, in case of preparing DPR for road works, the
geotechnical works can be done simultaneously with other works. As for individual geotechnical
project, the duration should be fixed based on expertise of a geotechnical engineer.
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5 Topographical Survey
For new constructions and road
Yes 12+L/0.3t+0.2(L/0.3t) Days
Is topographical improvement through widening
survey required For road improvement through
No 0 Days
pavement
Note:
j) 12 days include 5 days for moving to and from site and 7 days for data fine tuning
k) L= length of the road in Km
l) t= No. of survey team
m) As per past experience, the rate of carrying out has been kept at 300m or 0.3 Km per day by one
survey team
6 Detailed Geometric Design
For new constructions and road
Yes L/D+S+L/0.5D Days
Is Road Geometry improvement through widening
Design Required For road improvement through
No 0 Days
pavement
Note:
n) L= Length of the road in Km
o) D= No of Designers involved
p) For Preliminary Design a rate of designing 1 Km per day by 1 designer has been given i.e., L/D
q) S= Days for design site verification and it shall be L/3 for new construction assuming 3 Kms can be
covered in 1 day and L/6 for road widening assuming 6 Km verification can be done at site in a day
r) For Redesign and drawing and report generation after site verification, it has been given a rate of
designing 0.5 Km per day by 1 designer i.e., L/0.5D
7 Pavement Design
Is Pavement Design
16 or P+2 Days Whichever is more
Required
Note:
s) two activities need to be carried out for pavement design (traffic analysis and sample testing) and
they can be carried out simultaneously so the duration should be the longer of the two activities
t) 16 days is assumed with 14 days for traffic count and 2 days for analysis and design
u) P = duration for sample testing and P = 4, 8, 12, 16…….. days for road length ranges of 0-3, 3- 6, 6-9,
9-12, …..km respectively
8 Cost Estimation
Cost Estimation
including rate 14*C Days
analysis
Note:
v) C = no of contract packages
w) Estimating for one contract package requires 2 weeks
9 Project Execution Plan
Project Execution
10 Days
Plan
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10 Final Report Preparation
Report Preparation 10 Days
7.1 New Road Construction
For new road construction, almost all activities that need to be included in a DPR are
mandatory. However, some of the activities can be overlapped. Therefore, the required
duration for the preparation of DPR for a new road construction project shall be the
longest duration of the following options with a guide in Table 1:
Option 1
Duration = Feasibility Study + Mobilization + Environmental Studies +Cost Estimation +
Project Execution Plan + Final Report Preparation
Option 2
Duration = Feasibility Study + Mobilization + Geotechnical Studies + Cost Estimation +
Project Execution Plan + Final Report Preparation
Option 3
Duration = Feasibility Study + Mobilization + Topographical Survey + Detailed
Geometric Design + Cost Estimation + Project Execution Plan+ Final Report
Preparation
7.2 Road Improvement through Widening
Usually, existing roads are improved through widening. Thus, a feasibility study is not
necessary for this type of activity. Apart from that, all other studies are required. Their
extent may differ due to site or due to project size. Thus, to prepare DPR for a project of
such nature, the longest duration of the following options with guidance from Table 1
shall be given as the duration:
Option 1
Duration = Mobilization + Environmental Studies +Cost Estimation + Project Execution
Plan + Final Report Preparation
Option 2
Duration = Mobilization + Geotechnical Studies +Cost Estimation + Project Execution
Plan + Final Report Preparation
Option 3
Duration = Mobilization + Topographical Survey + Detailed Geometric Design + Cost
Estimation + Project Execution Plan+ Final Report Preparation
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7.3 Road Improvement through Pavement
For road projects which focus only on pavement strengthening, activities such as
feasibility studies, geotechnical studies, topographical surveys and geometric design are
generally not required. Hence, the duration for preparing DPR for such a project shall be
the longest of the following options with guidance from Table 1:
Option 1
Duration = Mobilization + Environmental Studies +Cost Estimation + Project Execution
Plan + Final Report Preparation
Option 2
Duration = Mobilization + Pavement Design +Cost Estimation + Project Execution Plan +
Final Report Preparation
7.4 Bridge Construction
For Bridge Construction, the studies that are required to be carried out remain the same,
starting from Feasibility Study to Project Execution Plan and Final Report Preparation.
However, the time period required for each study will differ. The optimum way to
calculate the duration required for the preparation of DPR for bridge construction is as
per the formula given below with the help of Table 2.
Duration= Feasibility study + Environmental Studies + Geotechnical Studies + Detailed
Bridge Design +Cost Estimation + Project Execution Plan + Final Report
Preparation
Table 2: Guide for fixing duration for preparing DPR for Bridge Construction
SN Activity Duration Required Unit Remarks
1 Feasibility Study
Feasibility Study 20 Days
Note:
a) 5 days for moving to and from site, 2 days for bridge location finalization, 5 days for verification, 4
days for survey and 4 days for final verification
2 Environmental Studies
An IEE shall be prepared by the
Environmental Studies 10 Days
engineer who visits the site
3 Geotechnical Studies
Usually required if the bridge is
Is a detailed Geotech Study Yes 15+(30+15(B-1)) +20 Days
major or the site is not sturdy
Required?
No 0 Days
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Note:
b) 15 days for mobilization
c) B = No. of bridges for which boreholes have to be made
d) 30 days for drilling boreholes, sampling and testing for one bridge and additional 15 days for every
additional bridge for which boreholes need to be drilled
e) 20 additional days are provided for analysis, recommendation and report preparation
4 Detailed Bridge Design
Bridge Design 90* B/D Days
Note:
f) B= No of bridges to be designed
g) 90 days for designing 1
h) D= No of Designers
5 Cost Estimation
Cost Estimation including
20 Days
rate analysis
6 Project Execution Plan
Project Execution Plan 10 Days
7 Final Report Preparation
Report Preparation 10 Days
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