IBRD clears $82-mn for road projects in HP

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has cleared $82 million support to Himachal Pradesh to strengthen its transport and road safety by improving the condition, safety, resilience and engineering standards of its road network. The Himachal Pradesh State Roads Transformation project will finance initiatives to build climate and disaster resilient roads, improve road safety along tourism corridors in the state, and improve logistics along fruit belts, and support the government's initiative to create a corporate entity responsible for ensuring well-performing roads. A third of the maintenance contracts under the project will be awarded to women-led SelfHelp Groups (SHGs). Reorganizing the Himachal Pradesh Road & Other Infrastructure Development Corporation (HPRIDC) and HP Motor Vehicle Administration as corporate entities, it will also support greater transparency and accountability in promoting innovative development solutions. The Safe Systems approach will be adopted in selected districts and in heavily trafficked corridors. Under the scheme, an emergency response system will be developed to help connect accident sites with hospitals for post-crash care and data collection. The funds have a final maturity period of 14.5 years, including a grace period of five years.