Japan has committed ₹16,420 crore (JPY 275.858 billion) in Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans to India, targeting urban transport, healthcare and agriculture initiatives across three states.
The agreement, formalized on March 24, 2026, through an exchange of notes between India’s Joint Secretary Alok Tiwari and Japanese Ambassador Keiichi Ono, was signed with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It funds four specific projects in Punjab, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
In Karnataka, JPY 102.480 billion will support Phase 3 (I) of the Bengaluru Metro Rail, aimed at expanding mass transit to ease congestion and cut pollution. Maharashtra receives JPY 92.400 billion for Mumbai Metro Line 11 (I), enhancing urban mobility and sustainability.
Another JPY 62.294 billion goes toward strengthening tertiary healthcare and medical education in Maharashtra, financing hospitals, medical colleges and nursing schools to improve access. In Punjab, JPY 18.684 billion targets sustainable horticulture, focusing on high-value crops, supply chains and boosting farmer incomes.
This loan package underscores the longstanding India-Japan development partnership, active since 1958, with a focus on economic cooperation and infrastructure.
The commitments align with bilateral efforts to address urban growth challenges and rural development needs, building on prior JICA collaborations in India’s metro and health sectors.
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