The Indian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement for a $295 million loan to upgrade about 265km of highways with climate- and disaster-proof design and road safety elements in Bihar, the Finance Ministry said.

The signatories of the agreement for improving connectivity and sustainability in Bihar Roads Project were Vumlunmang Vualnam, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Economy, who signed on behalf of the Government of India, and Takeo Konishi, Country Director for ADB in India, who signed for ADB.

The project supports the Bihar government's programme to upgrade all motorways to standard two-lane widths and improve road safety. The improved roads will improve connectivity in some of Bihar's poorest rural districts and promote access to health and education facilities and markets to improve people's lives.

"In addition to upgrading roads, the ADB project builds on previous efforts to improve the state highway agency's management and implementation capacity and will strengthen planning, road safety and sustainability systems," Konix said.