The construction work on the Punjab State Road Sector Project in north India will be jump-started following the sanctioning of around Rs 1,500 crore (about US$309m) by the World Bank.

Under the two-phase project, 1,100km of roads in the state will be improved while the first phase, which is currently in progress, comprises civil works on nearly 700km.

Over 95% of the land for the project has been acquired through private negotiations on resettlements and rehabilitation.

About Rs 288.80 crore (around US$60m) has been spent on the project during 2008-09.

The project is expected to be complete by June 2012.