India seeks French partners to build highways

India has a goal to build 20 km (12 miles) of highway per day,or 7,000 km (4,350 miles) per year.

The government would like French companies to help develop its fast-growing highway network,minister for transport Kamal Nath said in an interview with French daily ‘Le Figaro’.

India’s government,under pressure to ramp up the country’s infrastructure to keep up with its rapid economic growth,has a goal to build 20 km (12 miles) of highway per day,or 7,000 km (4,350 miles) per year,Nath said.

“France has an important network of roads and highways and numerous French companies are renowned for their competence in this sector,” he was quoted as saying.

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Nath was on a visit to France and was due to meet Economy Minister Christine Lagarde and Environment and Transport Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.

Asia’s third-largest economy is spending $1.5 trillion on infrastructure over the 10 years to 2017 and wants to bring foreign investors into road projects aimed at reducing supply bottlenecks.

Road construction firms in France include Bouygues,Eiffage and Vinci.

“It is clear that France has a formidable know-how in the construction and maintenance of highways,notably in toll roads,” Nath said. “We strongly wish to forge a partnership where everyone is a winner,a win-win situation.”