KSHIP-III upgrades 419-km highway
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lent US$346 million for improvement of over 400 kilometers of state highways that will enhance connectivity and access to economic centers across 12 districts in Karnataka.
An ongoing road improvement project financed by a US$315 million ADB loan is under implementation, which involves upgradation of about 615 km of state roads.
“The new loan will continue ADB support to the Government of Karnataka’s state-wide road improvement program, and will also help stabilize and deepen institutional capacity, and improve road safety,” said Kenichi Yokoyama, Country Director of ADB’s lndia Resident Mission.
“A key element of the project is the use of hybrid annuity contracts to improve road asset quality and sustainability,” he said after signing the loan agreement in Delhi on 30 Aug 2018.
The Karnataka State Highways lmprovement lll Project (KSHIP-lll) will upgrade about 419 kilometers of state highways to two- and four-lane with paved shoulders, and will reconstruct, widen, and strengthen culverts and bridges.
The project features the use of hybrid-annuity contracts to increase the participation of the private sector and improve the quality and sustainability of road assets with performance-based maintenance period of 7 years, post-construction.
The project will also carry out a road safety audit to identify and mitigate critical accident blackspots across the state highway network and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Karnataka Public Works, Ports, and lnland Water Transport Department.
“State highways provide a crucial link to population and economic centers, and support for the development of the state highway network in Karnataka through this project will promote economic activities and foster inclusiveness” said Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary (Fund Bank and ADB), Department of Economic Affairs. Fiinews.com
