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World Bank Approves $600 Million for Clean-Air Programs in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana

The loans back the first state-led, airshed-based programs under the Bank’s Indo‑Gangetic air‑quality initiative.

Overview

  • The board approved USD 299.66 million for Uttar Pradesh and USD 300 million for Haryana, with final maturities of 10 years and 23.5 years respectively.
  • Uttar Pradesh’s program targets 3.9 million clean‑cooking connections, deploys 15,000 electric three‑wheelers and 500 e‑buses, and incentivizes replacement of 13,500 heavy‑duty vehicles in Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
  • Haryana’s operation funds statewide air‑quality and emissions monitoring, e‑bus and e‑three‑wheeler services in Gurugram, Sonipat and Faridabad, cleaner MSME technologies, and equipment to manage and reuse paddy stubble.
  • The initiatives are part of the Regional Air Quality Management Program for the Indo‑Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills, with Haryana coordinating implementation through its ARJUN special‑purpose vehicle.
  • Grant support from the Resilient Asia Program and ESMAP and a goal to mobilize over USD 127 million in private capital accompany efforts expected to improve air for about 270 million people and expand green jobs.