The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Government of India on 12 August
2013 signed an agreement for 300 million US dollars in additional loan
to upgrade 254 kilometers of severely deteriorated highways in northern
and southern Bihar. The additional financing for the Bihar State
Highways-II Project, which is already under implementation, will widen
existing sections of four highways to two lanes, build and maintain
bridges, and strengthen pavement. This should optimize access to the
state highway network for beneficiaries living in remote villages.
Better roads built under the project will help more people access
social and health services as well as production centres and markets,
and therefore will promote better life and inclusive growth for the
people of Bihar.
This project will also use a 1 million US dollars grant to prepare a
20-year road master plan for Bihar state. This should help the national
and state governments achieve their vision of improving the lives of its
people by providing an efficient transport system.
ADB has supported Bihar’s State Highway Development Program through
assistance to Bihar State Highways Project-I (420 million US dollars,
closed in July, 2012) followed by Project-II (300 million US dollars,
signed in December, 2010). Together the projects are rehabilitating 1209
km of state highways.
The project will also focus on improving the road design that will
help address future flooding. To offset carbon emissions, the project
will plant 10 trees for every individual tree cut for road widening.
Solar panels will be used at construction sites to sequester carbon and
reduce carbon emissions.Those living near the roads will also receive
road safety training. Women will be actively involved.The total cost of
the project – due to be completed by October, 2017 – is 375 million US
dollars, with the Government of Bihar providing75 million US dollars.
TA 8170-IND: Road Master Plan for Bihar’s State Highway Development
is associated to this project. The TA will support the state
government’s sector development initiatives, especially for preparing of
a 20-year strategic master plan for developing Bihar’s state highways,
including long-term vision and goals, an action program, a financing
plan, and a monitoring and evaluation system with performance indicators
and targets. The TA is closing in December, 2014.
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