India and the UK Monday signed an agreement to cooperate in road sector under which Britain will lend its expertise in vehicle testing, driver training and maintenance of highways, among other things. The Indian Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on behalf of India while the UK Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond signed on UK's behalf. After the signing ceremony, Kamal Nath told newsmen at the Lancaster House that "the signing of the MOU is part of enhanced and better partnership" envisaged by British Prime Minister David Cameron during his recent India visit. "We are able to take forward UK Prime Minister's successful visit to India; it is continuation of Cameron's visit. This is even more and a better partnership in infrastructure and roads," Nath was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India (PTI). He claimed that at the end of the first year of the present Government, contracts to build 7,500 kms had been awarded. He maintained that in the second year, 9,000 to 10,000 kms of road building work will be awarded. "We are heading towards the 20,000 km mark."
