$348 M World Bank aid for TN

Wednesday, 18 June 2003, 19:30 IST
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WASHINGTON: The World Bank has approved a $348 million loan to help improve the quality, capacity and safety of the road network in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project will improve the state's infrastructure and investment climate, a World Bank press statement said. "Road transport is the dominant mode of transport in the state, and plays a big role in trade and tourism," says A.K. Swaminathan, the World Bank task leader for the project. "While demand for road transport has increased rapidly, infrastructure has not kept pace, leading to serious network deficiencies. "In addition, inadequate attention to road safety has resulted in an increasing number of deaths and injuries, especially of vulnerable road users like pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists." The project will enhance the quality of about 750 km of roads in the core Tamil Nadu network with proper management of social and environmental impacts. In addition, the project will deliver major maintenance on about 2,000 km, improve accident-prone locations and the management of the network through institutional strengthening, public-private partnerships, enhanced funding and improved allocation procedures for the road sector.
Source: IANS