Canadian transport authorities have expressed their willingness to extend cooperation to the State Government for improved Road Asset Management Practices. The State Government is undertaking Road Asset Management, Road Network Planning and Road Safety Action Plan with the support of the World Bank.
Director of Innovation Policy of the Transport Canada, which manages the Highway Network of Canada Neil Kochhar has expressed the intention in supporting Odisha while interacting with a team of the State led by Works Secretary Nalini Kanta Pradhan.
The visiting Odisha team presented to the Canadian counterparts on the computerised management system being adopted for both in planning and monitoring of the road network of the State.
Kochhar said Canadian support would be extended under the ongoing India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) jointly finalised by Canada and India.
The Odisha team was explained about the Electronic Toll Express-Way-the Highway-407 in Toronto to experience the fully-automated tolling system deployed in an expressway.
The modern road condition data collection equipment (ARAN) used by the Ministry of Ontario and the software tools used to determine its 20-year future plans were also demonstrated along with the use of modern traffic control and management system using surveillance cameras coupled with signalling and communication systems used by the municipal administration for the city roads of Toronto as well as by the Provincial Government for Highways.
Presently, the Odisha Government with World Bank assistance has taken up initiatives on Road Asset Management, Road Network Master Planning and Road Safety Action Plan for development and maintenance of the roads under the Department of Works.