New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed agreements for three loans worth over 800 million USD for projects in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and a Technical Assistance grant of one million USD in Assam.
The agreements were signed for the Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Programme for Agricultural Solarization (500 million USD,) Indore Metro Rail Project (190.6 million USD), Gujarat Skills Development Programme (109.97 million USD) and Technical Assistance (TA) grant of one million USD for the upcoming Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) Project in Assam.
In Maharashtra, the 500 million USD ADB-supported programme aims to modernise rural power infrastructure, promote distributed renewable energy generation, and improve agricultural productivity by providing farmers with reliable daytime solar electricity for irrigation.
By 2028, the programme aims to provide daytime electricity to at least 900,000 agricultural consumers.
Key components include modernising Maharashtra’s electricity distribution network for renewable integration entailing upgradation of substations, installing transformers, building high- and low-tension lines, and deploying 500 MWh of battery storage.
The Japanese Yen denominated loan (Yen 27,147,200,000), equivalent to 190.6 million USD for Indore Metro Project will finance construction of 8.62-km underground metro line with seven stations, connecting congested areas of Indore to the airport.
The project includes multimodal integration with existing bus and feeder services, improving access to educational institutions and markets. The Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited will implement the project, with operations expected to begin by January 2030.
In Gujarat, the 109.97 million USD Skills Development Programme aims to equip the state’s workforce with industry-aligned, advanced skills that boost job readiness in high-growth sectors. These sectors include logistics, automotive, manufacturing, information technology, renewable energy, healthcare and agri-tech.
