India govt, ADB tie-up to upgrade state highways in Bihar

31 Jul 2023 CW Team

The Indian Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement for a $295-million loan to upgrade around 265 km of state highways with climate and disaster resilient design and road safety elements in Bihar, the Ministry of Finance said.

The signatories to the agreement for enhancing connectivity and sustainability in Bihar Roads Project were Vumlunmang Vualnam, additional secretary, department of economic affairs, who signed on behalf of the Indian government, and Takeo Konishi, country director for ADB in India, who signed for ADB.

The project supports the Bihar government’s programme to upgrade all state highways to standard two-lane widths and improve road safety. The improved roads will enhance connectivity in some of Bihar's poorest rural districts and promote access to health and education facilities, and markets to improve people’s lives.

“Besides upgrading roads, the ADB project builds on earlier efforts to enhance the state road agency’s management and implementation capacity, and will strengthen the systems for planning, road safety, and sustainability,” said Konishi.

Infrastructure Energy

16 Sep 2025

Udangudi Thermal Plant’s First Unit Synced to Grid

The first 660 MW unit of the Udangudi Supercritical Thermal Power Project in Tamil Nadu has finally been synchronised with the grid, marking a long-awaited milestone for the state’s power sector. The project, being developed at a cost of Rs 13,076 crore by Tamil Nadu Power Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNGPCL), was originally scheduled for commissioning in 2021 but faced repeated delays due to court disputes and the COVID-19 pandemic.The synchronisation took place at 7.56 pm on Thursday, when the unit produced 42 MW during its initial trial run. Officials noted that the plant ..

Kandla Port to Expand Operations Beyond Gujarat

In a strategic shift, Kandla Port, managed by the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), is preparing to expand its operations beyond Gujarat for the first time. The authority has confirmed that it is exploring opportunities to manage both public and private terminals in Maharashtra and Karnataka.Kandla Port, located in Gujarat’s Kutch district, has traditionally been one of India’s busiest ports, handling more than 150 million tonnes of cargo in the last financial year. About 60 per cent of this was petroleum, oil, and lubricants, while the remainder included timber, food grains, chemicals, and ..

Mumbai Port Seeks Nod to Reclaim Sea at Jawahar Dweep

The Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) has proposed reclaiming 4.14 hectares of sea at Jawahar Dweep, also known as Butcher Island, to build additional crude oil storage facilities. The proposal, which will be placed before the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority for clearance, aims to improve turnaround times for ships handling petroleum and chemical cargo.Officials argue that the move is essential, as liquid petroleum and chemicals account for nearly 70 per cent of the port’s cargo. Currently, oil unloaded at Mumbai Port is piped to refineries in Mahul, but limited storage capacity has..