The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted India $300m for assisting in road improvement projects in the state of Bihar.

The Bihar State Highways II project involves building and upgrading about 356km of state highways to reduce travel times and improve road safety.

The project will upgrade targeted highways into two-lane roads, build new drainage and bridges, as well as strengthening culverts and existing bridges.

The total cost of the project is $424m, with the state government covering the remaining cost.

The project is scheduled to be complete by December 2014, with the Bihar State Road Development Corporation as the executing agency.