What happened
On 22 August 2026, the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $230 million loan to modernise and expand Chennai’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure. The Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project aims to improve access to safe and reliable water and better sanitation services across Chennai.
The Ministry of Finance engagement for finalising the loan was carried out under the guidance of Shri Baldeo Purushartha, Joint Secretary (ADB & Japan), Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance. Loan documents were signed by Shri Saurabh Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India, and by Ms. Mio Oka, Country Director, India Resident Mission, on behalf of the ADB.
Background and earlier position
ADB’s investment in Chennai builds on earlier projects in the city. The government information states that these earlier efforts focused on expanding access to safe and equitable water and waste management services, aligned with Government of India flagship urban development interventions, including Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 and the Urban Challenge Fund.