<h1>India and World Bank Sign $500M Loan Agreement to Upgrade 1,120 km of Highways in Less Developed States.</h1> India and the World Bank have signed a loan agreement for $500 million to support the National Highways Inter-Connectivity Improvement Project. The project aims to enhance the National Highway network in less developed states, including Bihar, Orissa, and Rajasthan, as well as regions in Karnataka and West Bengal. The initiative involves upgrading approximately 1,120 kilometers of existing highways. The total project cost is $1,146.05 million, with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways overseeing its implementation. The project seeks to improve connectivity and strengthen the institutional capacity of the highway management system.