$7.4 b ADB assistance for infrastructure

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to extend an aid quantum of $7.4 billion to India for developing its infrastructure for a three-year period (2011-13).
• A major thrust of ADB's 'India Country Operations Business Plan' (COBP) for 2011-13, will be to support infrastructure development, particularly through public-private partnership (PPP) programmes. 
• The ADB noted that supporting the government's efforts to redress inter-State economic disparities is also a key cornerstone of the COBP which is aligned to the country's XI Plan (2007-12) and the bank's long-term strategy for reducing poverty in the region. Continued assistance for development of the vital energy sector by means of projects involving clean and renewable energy is another key focus area
• The ADB said that it would continue with its projects in transport, energy and urban sectors in States like Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to help bridge inter-State economic disparities. It would also continue to provide assistance for the national rural roads development programme in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and West Bengal and for public resource management in Assam and Mizoram.