The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India inked $2.5 million project readiness financing (PRF) loan to support project preparation and design activities to upgrade major district roads in Sikkim. This will help improve connectivity to important towns, rural areas, pilgrimage and tourist destinations in the North-Eastern state. The PRF will support the State Government’s priority in improving road connectivity in the state through planning and designing of major district and other roads and bridges. Some of the priority roads identified for upgradation are included in the state’s Master Plan for transport management that was formulated with ADB technical assistance in 2012.