The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has awarded a $484m loan for road maintenance and transport connectivity in the Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Funding will increase connectivity to south and central Tamil Nadu, area that are not currently connected as fully as Chennai’s industrial hubs.

Some 590km of state highways will be upgraded and strengthened as well as being adapted for climate change with improved drainage, raised embankments and upgraded bridges.

The CKIC forms part of India’s East Coast Economic Corridor, linking West Bengal to Tamil Nadu.

Kanzo Nakai, ADB’s principal transport specialist for south Asia, said: “The development of the CKIC is part of ADB’s commitment to the government of India to stimulate growth in industrial corridors by linking industrial growth centres and port hinterlands along the coastline and integrating regional value chains.

“The project aims to increase the manufacturing industry’s participation in production networks and global value chains, as well as create jobs along the corridor.”