India and ADB Sign $200 Million Loan for Uttarakhand

November 7, 2024

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an important $200 million loan. This funding aims to improve urban services in Uttarakhand. The agreement was signed by key officials from both organizations. This project is part of a broader urban development agenda in India.

Project Overview

The project is named the Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project. Its goals include enhancing water supply, sanitation, urban mobility, and overall urban services in the state. It focuses on improving the livability and sustainability of cities in Uttarakhand.

Key Objectives

Urban Infrastructure: The project aims to create infrastructure that can withstand climate and environmental risks. This includes preparing for floods and landslides.
Capacity Building: It will develop the capabilities of state agencies. Training will focus on project management, disaster-resilient planning, and revenue generation.
Gender Mainstreaming: The project includes initiatives to empower women. This involves training for jobs in urban transport and water management.

The project targets several cities in Uttarakhand Haldwani, Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar.

Improvements in Haldwani

In Haldwani, the project plans to:

Develop 16 km of climate-resilient roads.
Establish an intelligent traffic management system.
Introduce compressed natural gas buses and pilot electric buses.
Construct 36 km of stormwater and roadside drains for better flood management.
Implement an early warning system for disasters.
Build a green-certified administrative complex and bus terminal.

Water Supply Enhancements

The project aims to improve water supply in four cities Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar. Key initiatives include:

Constructing 1,024 km of climate-resilient pipelines.
Installing smart water meters.
Building 26 tubewells and new reservoirs.
Developing a 3.5 million-litre-per-day water treatment plant.

Sanitation Improvements

In Vikasnagar, sanitation will be enhanced by

Establishing sewage treatment facilities.
Benefiting around 2,000 households.

Women Empowerment Initiatives

The project aims to support women through:

Livelihood skills training for driving buses.
Training for bus ticketing and electric charging station operations.
Capacity building for women in managing water supply and sanitation services.

The European Investment Bank is co-financing the project with $191 million. This financial support will aid in achieving the project’s objectives effectively.

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