India backs rail route linking Asia to Europe
India has decided to participate in a trans-Asian rail project that will connect vast parts of Asia and Europe and boost trade and tourism.
During a meeting last Thursday evening, the Indian cabinet gave its clearance for signing and ratifying the intergovernmental agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway, which will link various countries, from China in the east to Bulgaria in the west, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi told reporters here.The intergovernmental agreement, already signed by 18 countries, including Russia, China, Iran, several Central Asian countries, Turkey, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Nepal, Laos and Mongolia, will formalise the coordinated development of the Trans-Asian Railway. Indian Railways will set up a 350-kilometre link between Jiribam, India, and Moreh, Burma, for the proposed link-up. The Burmese government will share part of the project cost. India's cost is estimated at about 18 billion Indian rupees (Bt14.33 billion), and the total cost is expected to be about 30 billion rupees. The intergovernmental agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network was adopted at the 62nd session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific held in Jakarta last April 12. India initially had some security concerns but later decided to join the ambitious project. India seeks to attract tourists from Southeast Asian countries to its Buddhist-pilgrimage sites who can use the cheaper rail route. The rail link is also expected to help India's burgeoning trade with Asean.
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