India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $181 million loan agreement, aimed at improving infrastructure and services in the peri-urban areas, or the outskirts, of Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city.

• The initiative aims to achieve this by enhancing physical and social infrastructure, fostering economic vibrancy, and establishing these areas as attractive investment destinations.
• The project's focus on expanding quality urban services and improving transport connectivity, particularly for the large migrant population settling in the city’s outskirts.
• Central to the project’s objectives is the upliftment of marginalized communities, including urban poor, women, and migrant workers. 
• Through the construction of essential infrastructure, such as water distribution networks, stormwater drainage systems, and sewage treatment plants, the project aims to improve urban services and governance while promoting inclusivity and sustainability.
• The project also aims to strengthen urban planning capacities by integrating climate change adaptation into development strategies. It also promotes gender equality and social inclusion to create models for planned urban development that other states can adopt.