India, Britain to collaborate on transport policy

India and Britain have bilaterally agreed to cooperate on transport policy and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will soon be signed between the two countries, officials said on Friday.

The MoU will be signed on bilateral cooperation in urban transport policy planning, technology transfer and institutional organisation of transport.

"The decision to enter into a bilateral cooperation arrangement between the Transport For London (TFL) and the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on a wide range of transport mobility solutions and associated activities in urban environments was taken during the three-day official visit by Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari to Britain," an official statement said.

Earlier during his visit to the headquarters of TFL, Gadkari was given a presentation on strategy and policy reforms, customer experience and data analysis in respect of London Buses and other integrated modes of public transport in Greater London area.

Gadkari later said signing of the MOU will be done through diplomatic channels shortly.

According to the officials, there are also possibilities of cooperation on electric buses and water transport, over which discussions were held with the TFL authorities.

Under the proposed MOU, the TFL will share its expertise on the mobility and efficiency of transport system and methodologies to facilitate the planning and delivery of mobility solutions, including ticketing, passenger information, major project financing, infrastructure maintenance strategies, and behavioural change and public transport promotion.

The TFL provides world class services that keep the British capital better equipped with public transport. The TFL virtually coordinates all the London transport, including London Metro, the bus network, Dockland Light Rail, water transport and cable car.

--IANS

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