<span style="color: #222222;">India and Asian Development Bank, ADB, today signed 200-million dollar loan agreement for upgrading rural roads in 34 districts of Maharashtra to improve road safety.<br />'' <br />'' The agreement was signed between Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and Sabyasachi Mitra, Deputy Country Director of ADB's India Resident Mission.<br />'' <br />'' The Finance Ministry, in a release, said the project will improve the condition of about two thousand 100 kilometres of rural roads to all-weather standards.<br />'' <br />'' Sameer Kumar Khare said, improving rural connectivity is one of the key priorities of the government, which will help enhance rural livelihoods and alleviate poverty.<br />'' <br />''<br />''He said, enhanced road connectivity and better access to markets will help farmers increase agricultural productivity and incomes.</span><br />