Governance
ADB Loan to Upgrade Maharashtra Roads
- 29 May 2020
- 3 min read
Why in News
Recently, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $177 million loan to upgrade state highways and major district roads in the state of Maharashtra.
Key Points
- Coverage: The project will upgrade 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km.
- Road safety audit framework: The project will strengthen road safety measures by developing a road safety audit framework that will protect vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, and children, following the best international practices.
- Update the road maintenance system: The project will update the road maintenance system by encouraging 5-year performance-based maintenance obligations to contractors to sustain asset quality and service levels.
- Training PWD staff: The project will focus on training the Maharashtra Public Works Department project staff to build their capacity in climate change adaptation and disaster resilient features in road design, road maintenance planning and road safety.
- Improve connectivity: It will improve connectivity to national highways, interstate roads, seaports, airports, rail hubs, district headquarters, industrial areas, enterprise clusters and agricultural areas.
- Benefits:
- Better connectivity will increase access to markets, employment opportunities and services.
- Improved mobility will expand development and livelihood opportunities outside of the state’s major urban centers to second-tier cities and towns thus reducing income disparities.
Asian Development Bank
- ADB is a regional development bank established on 19th December 1966.
- ADB now has 68 members, 49 from within Asia.
- As of 31 December 2019, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
- It aims to promote social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific.
- ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
- ADB is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.
