Question : Innovative Technologies for NHs

(a) whether the Government has sought the cooperation of the United States to upgrade infrastructure in road transport sector;

(b) if so, the reaction of the United States in extending innovative technologies for improving highway development, road engineering, road safety and development of green fuels in automobile sector and electric vehicles in the country;

(c) the details of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and USA on upgrading infrastructure in transport sector during the past few months; and

(d) the time by which the work of upgrading infrastructure in transport sector is likely to start?

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUSTION NO. 214 FOR ANSWER ON 16.03.2017 ASKED BY SHRI GAURAV GOGOI AND SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA REGARDING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR NHs.


(a) & (b): A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for India-US Transportation Partnership was signed between India and USA during the visit of Secretary of Transportation, USA to India in April, 2015. The MoC was signed on behalf of the Ministries of Railways, Road Transport and Highways and Shipping from the Indian side and the Department of Transportation from the US side. The scope of the MoC includes cooperative work on key issues of mutual interest for all modes of transportation, along with coordinating public and private sector resources and expertise to advance safe, secure, efficient and integrated transportation systems.

(c) & (d): The MoC with USA covers the fields of Highway transportation, Urban transportation, Safety and environmental protection, Vehicle and behavioural safety, Fuel efficiency, Rail transportation, Maritime shipping, Intermodal transportation, Freight Corridors, Disaster preparedness and response and other fields of mutual interest. In addition, both sides may also identify specific projects for cooperation within the aforesaid fields and decide on separate arrangements when appropriate, in specific areas. Apart from official level discussions between the two sides, a 5-member delegation led by Minister (Road Transport & Highways and Shipping) also visited USA during 10-18 July, 2016 and met US Secretary of Transportation to lay down the roadmap for initiatives under the India-US Transportation Partnership. Under the MoC, a Joint Working Group (JWG) has been constituted for taking forward cooperation initiatives with the US in the transportation sector.
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