The Government of India, Government of Meghalaya and the World Bank have inked a loan agreement worth $120 million to improve and modernise the transport sector of the State of Meghalaya. This will help the state to harness its vast growth potential for high-value agriculture and tourism. The project will improve around 300 km of strategic road segments and stand-alone bridges by using innovative, climate resilient, and nature-based solutions. It will also support innovative solutions such as precast bridges to reduce both time and cost of construction. The Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP) will help the state develop reliable, climate resilient and safe roads. The difficult hilly terrain and extreme climatic conditions make Meghalaya’s transport challenges particularly complex. Around half of the 5,362 habitations in the state lack transport connectivity.
The project will tap into the state’s growth potential in two ways. Within the state, it will provide the much-needed transport connectivity. It will also position the state as a major connecting hub for international trade through the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and the Nepal Corridor. The operation will also support state government’s “Restart Meghalaya Mission” to revive and boost development activities affected due to COVID-19. It will help restore transport services and generate direct employment of about eight million person days. The $120 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 14 years including a grace period of six years.