Viewing to improve road safety and better connect in the rural areas of Maharashtra, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Central Government on Monday signed a $200 million loan to upgrade markets and all-weather standards, in 34 districts.
“Improving rural connectivity is one of the key priorities of the Government of India, which will help enhance rural livelihoods and alleviate poverty among remote rural communities in project districts,” said Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, ADB after signing the loan agreement. “Enhanced road connectivity and better access to markets will help the farmers increase agricultural productivity and incomes”.
“The project will improve the condition of about 2,100 kilometers of rural roads to all-weather standards, with climate resilience and safety features, connecting rural communities with productive agricultural areas and socioeconomic centers. Provision of contractual maintenance for 5 years following construction has also been provided under the project,” he added.
Maharashtra has an extensive road network, with rural roads making up two-thirds of the network. But more than half of these rural roads are unsealed, making them unsuitable for motorized traffic and impassable during the rainy season. Road safety has been a growing concern with the state accounting for over 8% of all fatal road accidents in India.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members, 49 from the region. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion.
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