NDIA TO SIGN MOUS WITH UK GOVERNMENT FOR COPERATION ON ROAD SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT OF HGHWAYS; BRIG FORMED TO SEEK GREATER ENGAGEMENT OF UK CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN INDIA

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India and United Kingdom will sign a Memorendum of Undersatnding seeking greater co-operation in areas of highway development, road safety, inspection & certification, IT systems and licensing. This was agreed between Shri Kamal Nath, Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Rt. Lord Andrew Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, Government of the UK in a meeting held in London today. The MoU will enable gretaer governemnet to governemnt co-operation and will help India to gain from the best practises and experiences of UK in the field. Shri Nath invited his counterpart to come to India to sign the agreement and take the partnership forward. Mr. Adonis pointed out that his country had made significant changes in its road safety and transport policy, which had helped them to improve their road safety record over the last 10 years and would be glad to partner with India.Shri Nath during his visit also participated in the India Infrastructure forum jointly organized by the Commonwealth Business Council and CII at London today. Speaking at the occasion, Shri Nath elaborated on the investment oppurtunities in the infrastructure sector in India as a whole and roads sector in particular. To faciliate greater engagement of the UK highways construction industry in the National Highways Development programme of India, Britain’s leading world-class construction companies has formed a group called British India Roads Group (BRIG ). BRIG will stimulate investment in NHDP and co-operate in the exchange of technology and know how between British and Indian private sector enterprises, business organizations and professional institutions. It had its first meeting at London on Monday where it made a presentation to Shri Kamal Nath. Serco, Holcim, Vinci, Pinsent Masons, JCB, 3i, Aggregate Industries, CBI, KIER, Rothschild, KPMG, ARUP, Benoy, Carillion, Balfour Beatty, Halcrow and Commonwealth Business School are the members of BRIG. To give impetus to efforts like BRIG aimed to bring in investment and technical know to Indian highways sector, UK Trade & Investment has proposed signing of another MOU with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. It will be aimed at developing and expanding co-operation in the roads and highways sector on the basis of mutual benefit. The MOU will come out with a “ Highway Investment Road Map”. This may include technical know how;operational requirements, including proactive management, maintenance, training and education; design including engineering master planning and architecture; legal, and finance and investment. The details of MoU are being firmed up. RS