Bihar

• 29 Jul 2023

ADB & GoI sign $295 million loan agreement to upgrade SH in Bihar

Why in News?

On July 27, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $295 million loan agreement to upgrade about 265 km of state highways in Bihar with climate and disaster-resilient design and road safety factors.

Key Points:

• The agreement to enhance connectivity and stability in the Bihar road project was signed by Wumlunmang Wualnam, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India on behalf of the Government of India and Takeo Konishi, ADB Country Director in India on behalf of the ADB.
• The project will support the Bihar government's programme to upgrade all state highways to standard 2-lane width and improve road safety. The upgraded roads will enhance connectivity in some of Bihar's poorest rural districts and boost access to health and education facilities and markets to improve people's lives.
• In addition to upgrading roads, the ADB project will build on the state road agency's earlier efforts to enhance management and implementation capacity and strengthen systems for planning, road safety and sustainability, said Takeo Konishi, ADB Country Director in India.
• The initiative to strengthen the State Road Agency, Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited will include developing a road asset management system which includes setting up of research laboratories at Bihar Road Research Institute to enable testing of materials including climate change and disaster risk information, reusable & sustainable materials, to mitigate the effects of climate change, Studies on congestion management & climate adaptation and road safety measures will include creating guidelines for gender-inclusive practices.
• The project will also encourage women's participation by providing employment to women workers in construction works. Women from communities in the project areas will also be given training on livelihood as well as making them aware of road safety, health, sanitation, abuse and harassment.
• Since 2008, ADB has provided five loans totalling $1.63 billion to Bihar to upgrade about 1,696 km of state highways and build a new bridge over the River Ganga.