An agreement for Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Grant of USD 9.20 Million with the World Bank for"Efficient and Sustainable City Bus Service Project" was signed here today by Shri Rai Kumar. Joint Secretary (MI), Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Onno Ruhl, Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of IBRD, acting as an Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility. Representatives from Ministry of Urban Development and State Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chandigarh (UT) were also present on the occasion.

The total program cost is USD 113.0 million, with USD 9.20 million as grant from the GEF and USD 103.07 million from Government of India and state & city governments for funding of buses and ancillary infrastructure.

The project's development objective is to improve the efficiency and attractiveness of city bus transport and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the demonstration cities. It comprises: (i) a national capacity building component to be implemented by Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD); and (ii) city demonstration projects in the cities of Bhopal, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Mira Bhayandar.

Grant agreement for sustainable urban bus service projects increases capacity building and demonstration support for reducing transport emissions. A grant agreement with IBRD acting for the Global Environment Facility will fund an Efficient and Sustainable City Bus Service Project to improve city bus efficiency and attractiveness and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project comprises a national capacity building component implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development and city demonstration projects to upgrade bus services and ancillary infrastructure in specified demonstration cities, funded through the GEF grant together with Government of India and state and city government contributions.