NEW DELHI: The Government of India signed a $300 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to upgrade Assam’s state highways and Major District Roads (MDR) lengthed over 300 kilometers.
Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, stated that the project will support Government of Assam’s flagship programme Asom Mala road improvement program to enhance the quality and service of priority sections of state highway and major district roads.
Nilaya Mitash, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission, signed the loan agreement for ADB, said, “Improved connectivity and safe road networks developed through the project will enhance mobility and accessibility of people in the less developed areas of the state to markets and services to spur growth and contribute to its potential as a growth catalyst for the SASEC region.”
The project aims to expand major district roads and highways from single lane to two lanes and to make climate and disaster-resilient structures. It will also work on providing public transport facilities, elevating highways in the flood prone areas and will include landslide prevention structures in the hilly areas.
In addition to this, community schools, health, water and sanitation facilities and heritage and tourism sites will also be restored in affected villages.