World Bank to aid $770 m for AP projects

Hyderabad, Jan 22: The World Bank has approved assistance to three projects worth $770 million (around Rs 3,720 crore) to design and promote environment-friendly roads, municipal development, rural water supply and sanitation projects in Andhra Pradesh.To this effect, agreements were signed by the representatives of Andhra Pradesh Government and the World Bank in the presence of Chief Minister K Rosaiah and World Bank country director Roberto N. Zagha.

According to the agreement, the World Bank will assist Andhra Pradesh State road sector to the tune of $320 million (Rs.1,568 crore) in laying better quality, capacity and safe roads in a sustainable manner. The total cost of the project is Rs.3,165 crore. The state government will bear the remaining amount.The World Bank has also offered an aid of $300 million (Rs.1,432 crore) to Andhra Pradesh Municipal Development Project in enabling them to improve urban services in the state.

In this project, the State  Government’s share is  Rs.92 crore while urban local bodies of the state will provide Rs.146 crore.The aid from the World Bank to the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation scheme is $150 million (Rs.720 crore). The estimated  cost of this  project is Rs.864 crore. The state  Government’s  share in this project is Rs.123 crore, while the community contribution will be Rs. 21 crore.According to the Chief  Minister, all the three projects will be completed in five years.