India signs $177 mn loan with ADB to improve road in Maharashtra

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $177 million loan to upgrade road infrastructure in the state of Maharashtra. The loan has been signed with prime objective of upgrading the 450 km of state highways and major district roads in the state of Maharashtra. The road improvement project consists of improving 2 major district roads and 11 state highways having the combined length of 450 km. The project will improve the connectivity to national highways, seaports, airports, industrial areas, rail hubs, interstate roads, district headquarters, enterprise clusters and agricultural areas.

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The project will also involve the strengthening of road safety measures with the development of a road safety audit framework that will led to the protection of vulnerable groups including the elderly, women, and children. 5-years performance-based maintenance obligations to contractors will be encouraged to sustain asset quality and service levels, hence updating road maintenance system. It will also train the Maharashtra Public Works Department project staff to enhance their capacity in climate change adaptation and disaster resilient features in various aspects such as road design, road maintenance planning and road safety.

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