The Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project-1 (KSHIP-1), which was executed between 2001 and 2007, with a World Bank loan of $447 million, has reduced road accidents on national highways, a report in The Hindu said.

According to the World Bank, road accident deaths per 10,000 registered vehicles declined from 16 before the start of the project to 11.62 after completion of the highways in the State. As per Road User Satisfaction Survey, in 2002, 53 per cent of road users felt unsafe on national highways (NHs), 66 per cent on State Highways (SHs) and 75 per cent on Major District Roads (MDRs). After the completion of the project, only 39 per cent felt unsafe on NHs, 30 per cent on SHs, and 42 per cent on MDRs, the bank said.

The report said 86 per cent of households related to the project improved their income and the proportion of families living below poverty line reduced by 12 per cent.

Housing conditions of those displaced improved in the resettlement colonies with access to electricity and drinking water, though some road and drainage works were yet to be completed.

During the period of post-resettlement, after an initial drop in the income levels at the beginning of settlement, adult workers were successful in finding alternative employment opportunities and raising their income level.

The project enhanced the capacity and improved the quality of 874 km of high-priority State roads through upgrading, and widening of 1,250 km through rehabilitation. The primary beneficiaries of the project were the agricultural and manufacturing sectors that rely on an effective transport system to enhance their productivity.

Over 90 per cent of works had been completed and a total of 874 km out of 884 km of roads have been upgraded and opened to traffic. Similarly, more than 1400 km out of 1,575 km of rehabilitated roads have been completed and opened to traffic.

In the coming years, the bank said the project would benefit 7.25 lakh village people who live along and near the project corridors.

They were expected to derive economic and social benefits from better access and enhanced mobility.