India on Tueday opened the door for British companies to get involved in the operation, maintenance and toll collection of major public-funded roads in the country.

“Today we are building world class cars, and aiming for the world class roads, so we must have world class operations,” Kamal Nath, minister for road transport and highways told reporters in a joint press briefing with visiting UK business minister Vince Cable to India.

“Maintenance of large number of public funded roads would be bid out on OMT basis. How the road operate and put safety requirements are very important for us,” Nath said.

The national highways authority of India (NHAI) and the United Kingdom trade and investment (UKTI) signed an agreement on cooperation for trade and investment in the roads and highways sector in India.

“The aim will be to facilitate technical knowledge upgradation between public and private sector enterprises, business organisations and professional institutions of both countries,” Nath highlighted.

The NHAI’s is planning to develop a 55,000 km  highway network in the country.

“UK firms with their world-class expertise and capabilities are the partner of choice as India builds its capacities to fuel growth. This agreement will help pave the way.” Vince Cable told reporters.

Cable will also co-chair the annual meeting of JETCO, the UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee, with commerce minister Anand Sharma on Wednesday. He will also attend the launch of the British India Infrastructure Group (BIIG) with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and meet Salman Kurshid, unionminister for corporate and minority affairs.