$250 million World Bank loan to support development and management of Rajasthan’s state highway network

The Government of India, Government of Rajasthan and the World Bank signed a US$250 million loan agreement for the Rajasthan State Highways Development Program II Project to build the state’s capacity to better manage its highways and improve traffic flows on selected highways in Rajasthan.

The World Bank-supported project will support the construction, upgrade, improvement and maintenance of 766 kms of state highways and major district roads. It will also focus on enhancing the institutional capacity to manage strategic network of the state through operationalization of Rajasthan State Highways Authority. In addition, it will also strengthen the capacity of the Public Works Department which is responsible for about 70 percent of the state’s road network. Special attention will be accorded towards management of road safety in the state.

“Road safety is an integral part of this program. It invests in the state’s capacity for road safety management by using proactive and preventive methods and using innovative tools of data and information systems,” said Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, World Bank India said. “Proactive sharing of lessons on road safety across states is also part of the project.”

Additional focus will explore the possibility of making roads more resilient to climate change, particularly high temperatures and flooding, and support resource efficient growth through use of greener materials.

It will help build the state’s capacity for road safety management, including for speed management, blackspot improvement program and the development and implementation of a road safety strategy.

Original source: World Bank
Published on 27 June 2019