GoI & ADB sign 37bn Japanese Yen loan for Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor

Current Context: The Government of India (GoI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan agreement for 37 billion Japanese Yen on December 15, 2023.

• This loan will help fund the construction of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, a crucial project for improving urban mobility and reducing carbon emissions in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Here are some key details about the project:
• The RRTS is a 82-kilometer high-speed rail line that will connect Delhi with Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
• The project is expected to be completed by 2025.
• The RRTS will have a maximum speed of 180 kilometers per hour, significantly reducing travel time between Delhi and Meerut.
• The project is estimated to cost Rs 17,843 crore (US$2.14 billion).
• The ADB loan will cover about 16% of the project cost.

Question:

Q.1 What percentage of the project cost is covered by the ADB loan?
a. 10%
b. 16%
c. 20%
d. 25%