ADB President Masato Kanda Pledges USD 10 Billion During First India Visit to Boost Urban Infrastructure and Green Development.
National
Masato Kanda, President of the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB), undertook his first official visit to India from May 28 to May 31, 2025. During the visit, he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, reaffirming ADB's strong support for India’s developmental goals and its ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
- ADB President Masato Kanda announced a USD 10 billion investment plan over the next five years to enhance urban infrastructure across India. This financial assistance will support projects such as metro extensions and new Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS). The funding package will include sovereign loans, private sector financing, and third-party capital participation to drive India’s urban transformation.
- As part of his visit, Masato Kanda experienced India’s advanced regional rail infrastructure by travelling on the Namo Bharat train from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. This journey marked his firsthand experience of India’s first Namo Bharat Corridor, showcasing the comfort, speed, and commuter-focused features of the country's next-generation regional rail system.
- The state of Tripura will receive a USD 85.4 million loan from the ADB aimed at implementing a major green urban upgrade. The project will focus on promoting electric vehicles (EVs), solar energy, and modern urban systems, aligning with India’s sustainable development and climate action commitments.
Main Point :- (i) ADB has withdrawn a USD 434.25 million loan initially intended for a proposed 1000 MW Solar Park project in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Assam.
(ii) The decision followed a formal request from India’s Ministry of Finance, citing opposition from local Karbi, Naga, Kachari, and Adivasi communities, who raised concerns over land diversion and the displacement of 24 villages.
(iii) The visit strengthened ADB's long-term partnership with India, focusing on infrastructure, sustainable urban growth, and inclusive development through financial and technical support in transport, energy, and green urbanization.
About Asian Development Bank (ADB)
President : Masato Kanda
Headquarters : Mandaluyong City, Manila, the Philippines
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