WB sanctions Rs 1,000 crore loan to HP

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Shimla, Jun 6 (UNI) The World Bank has sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore (220 million US dollars) loan to Himachal Pradesh for upgrading of state and district highways, reducing transportation costs and improving traffic flows, a top state government official said.

''The project will upgrade the state and district highways, including widening of about 450 km roads, besides maintaining over 2,000 km of roads in the state,'' Project Director cum Chief Engineer Arun Sharma told UNI here.

He said the project besides improving the quality of roads would upgrade priority segments of the core road network and ensure speedier movement of agriculture products to the markets.

Ninety per cent of the loan would be in the form of a grant-in-aid to Himachal, he said.

Of the total 28,000 km road network in the state, 2,000 km comprised of national highway, 2,160 km state highways and 2,240 km district roads.

Another senior state government official, requesting anonymity, said this extent of road network was considered inadequate since of half of the roads were not mettled and 90 per cent of state highway was single lane.

He said the project besides complimenting the World Bank supported Himachal Pradesh Rural Roads Project would help in increasing business activity and higher rural incomes.

A significant portion of the project's investments would be on road maintenance that would lead to developing a road maintenance management system, he said.

The official said the roads for upgradation were selected after taking into account the regional balance with the poorer districts of the state.

Extensive environmental studies and public consultations were undertaken to help in protecting natural environment and avoid or minimize adverse impacts, he added.

UNI

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