Japan Commits JPY 232.209 Billion Official Development Assistance Loan for Nine Key Projects in India

New Delhi: In a significant boost to bilateral cooperation, the Government of Japan has pledged an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of JPY 232.209 billion for nine crucial projects spanning various sectors in India. The exchange of Notes sealing this commitment took place today between Mr. Vikas Sheel, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Mr. Suzuki Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to India.

The ODA loan assistance is allocated to the following projects:

1. North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase 3) (Tranche II): Dhubri-Phulbari bridge (JPY 34.54 billion)
2. North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (Phase 7): NH 127B (Phulbari-Goeragre section) (JPY 15.56 billion)
3. Project for Promoting Start-up and Innovation in Telangana (JPY 23.7 billion)
4. Project for the Construction of Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (Phase 2) (JPY 49.85 billion)
5. Project for Promoting Sustainable Horticulture in Haryana (Tranche I) (JPY 16.21 billion)
6. Project for Climate Change Response and Ecosystem Services Enhancement in Rajasthan (JPY 26.13 billion)
7. Project for the Establishment of the Medical College Hospital at Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kohima (JPY 10 billion)
8. Project for the Improvement of Urban Water Supply System in Uttarakhand (JPY 16.21 billion)
9. Dedicated Freight Corridor Project (Phase 1) (Tranche V) (JPY 40 billion)

The road network connectivity projects aim to enhance infrastructure development in India’s North East region, while the Chennai Peripheral Ring Road project seeks to alleviate traffic congestion and bolster connections in the southern part of the state. The Nagaland project will contribute to tertiary-level medical service delivery, supporting universal health coverage. In Telangana, the initiative will focus on discovering entrepreneurial skills, particularly among women and the rural population, while also supporting business expansion for MSMEs.

The Haryana project aims to promote sustainable horticulture, enhancing farmer incomes through crop diversification and infrastructure development. Rajasthan’s forestry project will concentrate on ecosystem services through afforestation, forest, and biodiversity conservation. The Uttarakhand project, set in the mountainous state, targets stable urban water supply, and the Dedicated Freight Corridor project’s fifth tranche will contribute to the construction of a new dedicated freight railway system, modernizing intermodal logistics systems to handle increased freight traffic.

The exchange of notes for these vital projects marks another chapter in the long-standing and fruitful history of bilateral development cooperation between India and Japan since 1958. Strengthening economic ties and strategic partnership, these projects reinforce the enduring relationship between the two nations.