India, ADB Sign $125 Million Loan to Upgrade Urban Services in Assam
The loan agreement for the Assam Urban Sector Development Project was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Mio Oka, Country Director, ADB India Resident Mission.
New Delhi, September 23: The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $125 million loan agreement to upgrade water supply and stormwater management systems in Assam, aiming to improve urban livability and strengthen climate resilience in the state.
The loan agreement for the Assam Urban Sector Development Project was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Mio Oka, Country Director, ADB India Resident Mission.
Benefiting 360,000 Residents
The project is expected to directly benefit 360,000 residents by ensuring continuous metered water supply and modern stormwater management in six district headquarters — Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, and Nalbari — along with Guwahati.
Key infrastructure upgrades include six new water treatment plants with a combined capacity of 72 million litres per day and 800 km of distribution pipelines. A real-time monitoring system will also be deployed to reduce nonrevenue water to below 20 percent.
Tackling Flood Risks in Guwahati
In Guwahati, stormwater management in the Bahini Basin will be strengthened with flood diversion channels, upgraded drainage, and a nature-based retention pond to reduce flood discharge and boost groundwater recharge.
Governance and Digital Reforms
The project will also establish the Assam State Institute for Urban Development in collaboration with IIT Guwahati. Digital reforms will include a GIS-based property tax database, digital water billing, and volumetric water tariffs to enhance service delivery and financial sustainability.
Focus on Women and Social Inclusion
With a strong emphasis on inclusivity, the initiative will support women self-help groups with training in water operations, create internship opportunities for college-age women, and launch school outreach programmes to raise awareness about water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Officials said the project represents a major step toward making Assam’s cities more livable, sustainable, and climate-resilient.
