Road

The Government of India has signed an agreement with the World Bank for $160m credit for the Rajasthan Road Sector Modernization Project.

The Rajasthan Road Sector Modernization Project will construct 2,500km of rural roads, connect around 1,300 villages as well as conduct preparatory studies to improve 700km of priority stretches of the state highways.

The roads will be built to a bitumen surface standard, and will include all the required bridges and cross drainage works to facilitate year-round connectivity.

The project aims to support the state of Rajasthan in improving rural connections and road safety as well as strengthening the road sector management capacity.

Although the state has made considerable progress in improving rural road infrastructure in the recent past, nearly 7,357 villages in the state, with population of less than 500 each, do not have proper road connections.

"This will help improve access to markets, healthcare and education."

Department of economic affairs, ministry of finance joint secretary Nilaya Mitash said: "This loan from the World Bank will help the government improve rural connectivity and strengthen its road safety management system.

"The aim of this project is also to gradually transform the Public Works Road Department into a modern road agency by introducing good practices, strategic planning, and project and asset management."

Among the key components of the project are improving rural connectivity through building of roads; and supporting the state’s Road Sector Modernization Plan (RRSMP) by strengthening institutions.

It also aims at improving accountability and introducing new technologies to reduce construction costs, while strengthening road safety management systems.

World Bank India lead financial management specialist Manoj Jain said: "This project will build on our long engagement in the road sector in India by connecting small and remote habitations in the state to the mainstream. This will help improve access to markets, healthcare and education while creating new jobs and boosting agriculture."

The project will be funded by a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) – the World Bank’s concessionary lending arm.

Image: The Rajasthan Road Sector Modernization Project will involve construction of 2,500km of rural roads. Photo: courtesy of Petr Kovar.