ADB Commits $490 Million to India’s Urban Transit: Indore Metro & Delhi-Meerut RRTS
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Institutions: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved two major loans to support India’s urban transit infrastructure:
$190 million for the Indore Metro Rail Project, aimed at accelerating metro connectivity in Indore.
$299 million for the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) - the final tranche in a multi-phase financing structure.
Together, these amount to nearly $490 million in external financing for sustainable urban mobility.
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor spans about 82 kilometres, and this latest loan brings ADB’s total commitment under its multi-tranche facility to about USD 1.05 billion. Portions of the RRTS corridor (55 km) are already operational, reducing commute times between Delhi and Meerut from over three hours to about one hour.
In inducing metro expansion in Indore, the loan is expected to help the city manage traffic growth, enable sustainable urban mobility, and reduce emissions. The project complements India’s aim of expanding metro networks in mid-sized cities.
These financing commitments from ADB reinforce India’s push toward integrated, high-capacity urban transit systems. They help shift urban growth toward public transport, reduce carbon footprints, and decongest cities. For states and cities, aligning local infrastructure, land use, and transit-oriented development (TOD) will be key to maximising benefits.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can implementing agencies ensure seamless execution, smart integration with local transit, and cost recovery mechanisms so that these corridors sustain financially over time?
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ADB on Indore Metro loan | ADB on Delhi-Meerut RRTS loan