ADB approves $200 million for Uttrakhand Livability Improvement Project

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a $200 million loan to finance the Uttarakhand government’s Livability Improvement Project, which aims to upgrade and strengthen its urban infrastructure and make it climate resilient. An agreement was recently signed between the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank representative in New Delhi.

Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project

The Uttarakhand Livebality Improvement Project is implemented by the Government of Uttarakhand and co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.

The total cost of the Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project is $465.9 million, of which the State government will provide $74.9 million, the European Investment Bank $191 million, and the ADB $200 million.

The Livability Improvement Project seeks to enhance the quality of life and climate resilience by upgrading the state's water supply, sanitation, drainage, flood management, urban mobility, and other urban services. 

ADB project finance of Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project

The ADB loan will finance the projects in Haldwani, Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar under the Uttarakhand Livability Improvement Project.

In Haldwani, the loan will finance the development of 16 km of climate-resilient roads, establish an intelligent traffic management system, deploy eco-friendly compressed natural gas buses, and pilot electric buses.

The loan will finance the construction of  36 km of stormwater and roadside drains to improve flood management and implement an early warning system, strengthening the city's disaster resilience. 

The ADB loan will finance the construction of 1,024 km of climate-resilient pipelines with smart water meters, 26 tubewells, new reservoirs, and a 3.5 million-litre-per-day water treatment plant in the four cities of Champawat, Kichha, Kotdwar, and Vikasnagar to ensure 100 % water service coverage.

Sewage water treatment facilities will be set up in Vikas Nagar to improve the sanitation coverage in the city.

The loan will also finance projects that seek to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Uttarakhand Urban Sector Development Agency and urban local bodies in project management and climate and disaster-resilient planning.

Asian Development Bank 

Asian Development Bank(ADB) is a multilateral development bank focused on the Asia Pacific region.

The Bank has 69 member countries and was set up in 1966.

Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Manila, Philippines.