The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have inked $484 million loan to improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in the state of Tamil Nadu. CKIC is part of India’s East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), which stretches from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and connects India to the production networks of South, South-East, and East Asia.
The project will upgrade around 590 km of state highways in the CKIC influence areas that cover 23 of 32 districts between Chennai and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. In line with Strategy 2030, ADB’s long-term corporate strategy, the project emphasises sustainability, climate change resilience and road safety elements.