The National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), which is responsible for managing a network of over 5,500 km out of 1,15,000 km of National Highways in India, has inked a memorandum of understanding with the National Skill Development Council (NSDC). The MoU aims to establish a basis of collaboration between NHIDCL and NSDC to take up multiple initiatives contributing towards making India the skill capital of the world. An official statement says, “NHIDCL and NSDC are leading premier National organisations in their respective fields and are desirous of working together as a team to achieve national objectives, undertaken with their best abilities and maximum mutual co-operation.” The NHIDCL has been entrusted with the task of developing and improving road connectivity of an approximate aggregate length of 10,000 km, including the international trade corridor in the Northeast, and 500 km in the North Bengal, to enable efficient and safe transport regionally with other South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) member countries and promote cross border trade and commerce, besides helping safeguard India’s international borders. It envisages creating customised and specialised skills for addressing issues like complexities of geographical terrains and addressing extensive coordination requirements with security agencies. NHIDCL endeavours to undertake infrastructure projects including but not restricted to urban infrastructure and urban or city transport and to act as an agency for the development of all types of infrastructure. It works towards cross-sharing of technical know-how and enhancing opportunities for business development with other nations and their agencies, including multilateral organisations and institutions. See also: How new HAM criteria puts all on equal footingNHAI to begin work on elevated highway in Chennai Port