Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 350 million

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Multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 350 million (about Rs 2,900 crore) loan to improve the road connectivity of key economic areas in Maharashtra. The Connecting Economic Clusters for Inclusive Growth in Maharashtra project will further develop the state’s core road network in the Ahmednagar, Hingoli, Jalna, Kohalpur, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Sangli and Satara districts. It will help connect underdeveloped rural communities with off-farm opportunities and markets, improve access to health and social services and improve agricultural value chains by reducing transport costs for small and medium-sized enterprises. The project will promote gender equality and social inclusion in highway programmes, schools, health, and social services and set up integrated service centres to provide basic sanitation, education, and other services adding skills training for enterprises led by poor women and disadvantaged groups will be conducted to provide livelihood opportunities. Learn Along: ADB Headquarters: Philippines President: Masatsugu Asakawa