The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved loans amounting to about Rs 29 billion to improve the road connectivity of key economic areas in Maharashtra. The loans will enable the state to link economic clusters, ensuring inclusive growth in the state’s core road network in Ahmednagar, Hingoli, Jalna, Kohalpur, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Sangli and Satara.

The funds will also help connect underdeveloped rural communities with off-farm opportunities and markets, improve access to health and social services and agricultural value chains by reducing transport costs for small and medium-sized enterprises.

It will build on the Maharashtra State Road Improvement Project approved by ADB in April 2020 to upgrade at least 319 kms of state highways and 149 km of district roads, incorporating climate and disaster-resilient features. It will also construct major district roads connecting Nanded and Telangana.

The project will promote gender equality and social inclusion in highway programmes, schools, health, and social services, and set up integrated service centres to provide sanitation, education, and other services.

See also:
Maharashtra to develop Pune-Nashik expressway
Tenders floated to prepare Chennai’s Outer Ring Road