India, ADB sign $800 million loans for development projects in 3 states

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a series of loan agreements totalling more than USD 800 million to support key development projects across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, marking a significant boost to infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives in these states. Alongside the loans, a Technical Assistance (TA) grant of USD 1 million was also finalised to aid the implementation of the upcoming Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) Project in Assam, designed to strengthen the state’s wetland ecosystems and fisheries sector.
According to information, a major share of the financing USD 500 million has been earmarked for the Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Programme for Agricultural Solarization. This initiative aims to modernise rural power infrastructure, promote distributed renewable energy generation and improve agricultural productivity by ensuring farmers receive reliable daytime solar electricity for irrigation. The programme includes upgrading substations, installing transformers, expanding high- and low-tension lines and deploying 500 MWh of battery storage. By 2028, the initiative is expected to facilitate daytime electricity access for at least 900,000 agricultural consumers.In Madhya Pradesh, ADB has extended a Japanese Yen-denominated loan equivalent to USD 190.6 million for the Indore Metro Rail Project. The funding will support the construction of an 8.62-km underground metro corridor featuring seven stations, aimed at easing congestion and improving urban mobility by providing seamless connectivity from densely populated areas to the airport. The project also incorporates multimodal integration with existing bus and feeder services, with metro operations targeted to begin by January 2030.Gujarat will receive USD 109.97 million for the Gujarat Skills Development Programme, which focuses on enhancing workforce training systems and improving employment opportunities in the state. Complementing these initiatives, the USD 1 million TA grant for Assam will support preparatory work for the SWIFT Project, which is geared towards restoring wetlands, strengthening climate resilience and enhancing fishery-based livelihoods.