New Delhi, Aug 08: World Bank, which plans to invest $1 billion a year in India's transport sector, on Friday proposed a separate 'Road Maintenance Fund' through fuel tax and user charges for development of highways. "We have been investing about $1 billion per annum in the last two years. We will invest 700 million to $1.0 billion per annum in the coming years as well," World Bank's transport sector manager (South Asia), Guang Z Chen, said on the sidelines of a seminar.

Slow progress in road projects was one of the reasons why the bank is not keen on increasing its funding significantly.
"There has been progress in the road sector but not as fast as it was expected," Chen said.
World Bank stressed user charges on roads as both Centre and states, having huge fiscal deficits, were unable to step up investments in this sector.
The funding for road projects had to come from general taxes or specific cess, Chen said, adding "someone has to pay for the development of roads in the country." Bureau Report