Andhra Pradesh receives transport loan

Date: 19/10/2009

Transport in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is to receive a multi-million dollar boost from the World Bank.

A total of $320 million (£195 million) is to be loaned to the region in a bid to increase the safety, quality and capacity of its roads.

Much of Andhra Pradesh's economy is based on its road network and in recent years double lane roads on state highways have increased from 52 to 68 per cent of the total.

Roberto Zagha, country director for India at the World Bank, said: "Improvements in road transport is vital to catalyze agricultural and industrial development and improve access to markets, jobs and services to the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially its poor people.

He added that the project would assist in the removal of "infrastructure bottlenecks" which were hampering the development of the state.

Earlier this month the region suffered badly as a result of poor weather, with floods destroying roads and railways.