The World Bank has approved a $320m loan to India to help improve the quality, capacity and safety of roads in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh Road Sector Project will use the funds to upgrade around 429km of priority state highways and finance long-term maintenance of over 6,000km of the state’s core road network.

The loan will also help the state to attract private sector participation in financing, development, and management of selected high traffic density corridors.

The funds will also be used to support measures to reduce road accidents, including ‘demonstration projects’ on selected corridors.

The loan, from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 30 years, including a grace period of 5.5 years.