In a bid to boost the urban transport infrastructure, the Government on Monday signed an agreement with the United States for sharing latest knowhow and systems on public transport. This comes in the wake of Urban Development Ministry putting the urban transport policy as a key element in the building of urban infrastructure.

The new memorandum of cooperation with the US will span the fields of public transport, inter-modal transportation, safety in transport, transport for persons with disabilities, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Traffic Information Centre, capacity building and training in public transportation and other fields of mutual interest.

Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, after signing the agreement, said: “Large-scale urbanisation in India has put severe strain on urban infrastructure which includes water supply, road and transport, sewerage and sanitation, drainage and solid waste management. If momentum of economic growth is to be maintained, challenges thrown up by large-scale urbanisation will have to be addressed without delay.”

The memorandum of cooperation will facilitate exchange of scientific and technical information on public transport, exchange of specialists, delegations and scientific and technical personnel.