ADB gives nod for $179-mn loan to improve water supply, urban services in Sikkim
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $179 million loan to improve urban services, including water supply, across seven cities in Sikkim.
The Sikkim Integrated Urban Development Project is designed to improve water supply, sanitation, urban mobility, and disaster preparedness in Gangtok, Gyalshing, Mangan, Pakyong, Rangpo, Singtam and Soreng.
According to an official statement, the project will provide continuous piped water supply for over 90 per cent of residents in four cities, by constructing three new water treatment plants and networks. It will also implement citywide inclusive sanitation systems, including building new integrated wastewater treatment systems, over 45 km of sewerage networks, and fecal sludge management facilities.
The project aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of state agencies in urban planning, mobility, operations and maintenance, revenue generation, and climate resilience through updated strategic frameworks, GIS-based master plans, and smart mobility initiatives. A dedicated urban data center and training hub will support sustained capacity development.
Together, these measures will foster stronger interdepartmental collaboration, climate-adaptive infrastructure, and transit-oriented urban development across Sikkim’s key towns. Gender-inclusive planning is central to the project, with women-led community water and sanitation programs, skill-buildings, and internships for youth and young women in urban services.
“The project supports India’s national agenda for urban transformation as well as its digitalization goals by establishing GIS data centers, expanding IT initiatives, and mapping municipal assets to enable smarter and integrated planning,” said ADB Country Director for India Mio Oka.
“By combining investments in water supply, sanitation, and urban mobility, the project will deliver continuous water supply, reduce non-revenue water, and ensure inclusive sanitation services creating resilient and livable cities for communities across Sikkim”.
To improve urban mobility, the project will upgrade 25 kilometers of urban roads and pedestrian infrastructure and construct nine transit complexes featuring smart parking, commercial zones, and facilities for emergency disaster relief. Seven adaptive urban corridors will be developed with smart lighting, real-time information displays, and traffic management systems. Resilience measures include flood-proofing, landslide mitigation, GIS-based master planning, and bolstering disaster response infrastructure, the statement added.
