ADB, Japan to provide $1.5 mn aid to Karnataka

The Asian Development Bank and the Japanese government will provide a grant of $1.5 million (around Rs 7 crore) to support the improvement in road network in Karnataka.

The Japan Special Fund, financed by the Japanese government and administered by ADB, would be extending a grant of $1.5 million equivalent for the Karnataka State Highway Network Improvement Strategy.

"It will be used to draw up a plan for a core network of roads that will support the state's push to expand the agriculture, mining, industry and tourism sectors, and to improve connectivity with other forms of transport," ADB said in a statement today.

The project would identify the required corridor routes, likely traffic demand over 10 years and infrastructure standards for supporting the government's development plans.

Along with the Japanese government and ADB, the Karnataka government would provide in-kind funds of $375,000 (around Rs 1.7 crore). The Karnataka Public Works Department would be the executing agency.

The statement said the initiative would be followed up by further technical assistance to prepare the way for possible ADB-financed road projects.