By IANS,
New Delhi : India has requested the World Bank to provide $2.96 billion loan for expansion of 3,770 km roads.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath held discussions with World Bank President Robert Zoellick on $2.96 billion loan which his ministry has sought for converting 3,770 km single/intermediate lane roads to two-lane standards, an official statement said Thursday.
“Taking forward the matter, the various issues relating to implementation of this project were discussed with the World Bank president,” it said.
During his meeting with Zoellick in Singapore Wednesday, Nath also sought the Bank’s assistance for strengthening the National Institute for Training of Highway Engineers (NITHE).
The minister targets to make the Noida-based institute an Asian hub for highways engineering. NITHE is an apex body under the road transport and highways ministry for training and capacity building in the road sector.
The World Bank has already promised to provide $45 million technical assistance loan for capacity building and institutional strengthening of the National Highways Authority of India.