Standard Post with Image

Centre, World Bank sign MoU for Rural connectivity in Rajasthan

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Rural connectivity in Rajasthan is likely to get better with the Union government and the World Bank recently signing a $160 million credit for the state&#39;s &#39;Road Sector Modernization Project&#39; to support the state government to improve rural connectivity, enhance road safety and strengthen the road sector management capacity of the state.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&quot;In recent years, Rajasthan has made considerable progress with developing its rural roads under the Prime Minister&#39;s Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a flagship programme of the government of India. More than 80% of its habitations, with population of over 500, now have road connectivity. However, some 7,357 villages in the state, with population below 500, do not have road connectivity as they are not covered under the PMGSY,&quot; the World Bank said.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The Rajasthan Road Sector Modernization Project will construct 2,500 Km of rural roads, connect around 1,300 villages that are currently not covered under the PMGSY and also undertake preparatory studies for improving 700 Km of priority sections of the state highways. The roads will be built with a bitumen surface standard and will include all necessary bridges and cross drainage works in order to maintain year round connectivity.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">&quot;The government of India is committed to further improve rural connectivity in India. This loan from the World Bank will help the government improve rural connectivity and strengthen its road safety management system. The aim of this project is also to gradually transform the public works road department into a modern road agency by introducing good practices, strategic planning, and project and asset management,&quot; said Nilaya Mitash, joint secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">It will include a 100 Km safe corridor demonstration project which will focus on measures to improve the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, passengers and motorized two wheelers. The safe corridor will benefit from a multi-sectoral approach with better engineering, enforcement, healthcare and community awareness.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The credit agreement on last Thursday for the project was signed by Nilaya Mitash, joint secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance; J C Mohanty, principal secretary, PWD on behalf of the government of Rajasthan and Manoj Jain, lead financial management specialist, World Bank, India.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Source-On Request</span></span></span></p>