Road improvement to link Gujarati villages.

India has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for financing of US$329 million for a mega project covering rural roads in Gujarat.

The Government of India/Government of Gujarat and the AIIB signed the loan on 4 Aug 2017 in New Delhi.

The project is to improve the rural road connectivity and accessibility (by providing all weather road connectivity) to 1,060 villages in all the 33 districts in Gujarat state benefiting about 8 million people.

The project will also benefit the service providers such as public transport operators, educational institutions, hospitals, local markets and traders.

The project consists of following two main components:

Constructions and Up-grade of 5,000-km Non-Plan Roads (NPRs). Besides, it is also to construct – missing links (last mile connecting to the road network); missing structures (culverts and small bridges); approach roads to educational institutions; and upgrade/construct roads passing through tribal areas.

Up-grade of Planned Roads – existing earthen and metal roads to black top roads, resurfacing of village roads and other district roads, up-grade of bridges to prevent flooding and subsequent isolation of flooded villages during monsoon season and widening of village roads and other district roads to ease traffic congestion. fii-news.com