Guwahati, Jan 15: The World Bank approved loans worth USD 680 million for three major development projects in Assam, aimed at boosting climate resilience, strengthening governance and service delivery, and improving education and workforce preparedness across the state.
In a statement issued on January 15, the Washington-based multilateral lender said its Board of Executive Directors cleared the projects on Tuesday to support Assam in responding to extreme weather events, enhancing public administration, and equipping over four million students with skills required for the job market.
The largest share, amounting to USD 350 million, was allocated to the Assam Disaster Resilient Hill Roads Development Project. The initiative was designed to construct climate-resilient road infrastructure, particularly in hilly and challenging terrain. It was expected to cut travel time and improve access for about 190,000 people, mainly from tribal and rural areas, while also strengthening connectivity through upgraded transport and logistics hubs with truck and container bays, taxi and bus terminals, and electric vehicle charging facilities.
Another USD 250 million was approved for the Assam School Education and Adolescent Wellbeing Project, which aimed to enhance learning outcomes for more than two million primary school students. The project also sought to prepare an additional two million adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years for future employment through life-skills training and curriculum improvements, including the introduction of multilingual instruction.
The remaining USD 80 million was sanctioned for the Assam Governance and Service Delivery Program. This project was intended to strengthen public financial management and improve administrative services for citizens and businesses, while supporting the creation of a strong data ecosystem to promote transparency, efficiency, and evidence-based policymaking.
The World Bank said all three loans would carry a final maturity of 16 years, including a grace period of three years, providing Assam with long-term financing to implement the planned reforms and infrastructure initiatives.
