World Bank, GoI ink pact for $500 million project to develop green, safe highway corridors

The government inked a $500 million loan pact with the World Bank (WB) to develop safe and green national highway corridors in the states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday.

The Green National Highways Corridors project will support the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in constructing 783 km of highways by integrating technology designs such as local and marginal materials, industrial byproducts, and other bioengineering solutions, said a finance ministry statement.

“This project will provide efficient transportation for road users in the four states, connect people with markets and services, promote efficient use of construction materials and water to reduce the depletion of scarce natural resources, and help lower GHG (greenhouse gases) emissions,” said Junaid Ahmad, WB country director for India.