ADB approves ₹4,200-cr for urban infra projects

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved two loans worth $570 million (around ₹4,200 crore) for urban infrastructure projects across Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The multilateral agency informed that it has approved a $300 million loan to develop Rajasthan's secondary towns and a $270 million loan for Madhya Pradesh Urban Services Improvement Project. A $300 million loan has been cleared to finance inclusive water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan. The project is expected to build citywide access for improved water supply services for around 5,70,000 people and enhanced sanitation services for about 7,20,000 people in around 14 secondary towns. ADB informed that $270 million loan has been approved for the construction of water supply and integrated stormwater and sewage management infrastructure in MP. The loan is an additional financing to scale up the scope of the MP Urban Services Improvement Project, which was approved in 2017 with a $275 million loan. It will expand the outcome of the current project by benefiting additional households consisting of about 1.3 million people. The project will also receive support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, specifically for the integration of Citywide Inclusive Sanitation principles into the planning, design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of the sanitation subprojects.