India signs Trans-Asian Railway Network Agreement

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, June 30 (UNI) India has signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway that will go a long way in strengthening ties with South East Asia, in line with its 'Look East Policy' that requires strengthening of rail linkages in the region, Trans-Asian Railway Network will improve transport linkages between Asia and Europe facilitating movement of goods and containers among SAARC and ASEAN countries, resulting in enhanced trade.

It will also provide a unique opportunity for the Government to and also strengthen rail linkages in North Eastern part of the country.

The Agreement was signed by Chairman Railway Board J P Batra yesterday at UN Headquarters, New York.

Earlier, 18 countries had signed the agreement at Busan, Republic of Korea in November last year. Now with India and Bangladesh signing the agreement, in all 20 countries have become signatories to the agreement.

The total Trans-Asian Railway Network as finalised by the agreement has 80,900 Kms of Railway line in 28 countries including 22,600 Kms in South Asia, Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey.

The Southern Corridor of the network as decided in an expert group meeting held in Dhaka in 1999, commences from Kunming in China and Bangkok in Thailand and ends in Kapikule in Bulgaria.

The total length of this route between Bangkok and Kapikule is 11,460 Kms and it provides trans continental rail connectivity to countries China, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Iran and Turkey.

The route as proposed will enter India at Tamu, bordering Myanmar, entering Bangladesh at Mahisasan/Shabajpur and again entering India from Bangladesh at Gede.

On the west side, the route is proposed to enter Pakistan at Attari. This route has a missing link of 315 Kms between India and Myanmar of which 180 Kms alone is in India between Jiribam and Tamu in Manipur state.

Indian Railways have the largest and most developed rail network in the region. It will benefit from a multi-lateral agreement in the region as it will harmonize different standards and technologies adopted by different countries benefiting Indian Railways.

Tran-Asian Railways Project of UN-ESCAP(Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) aims at promoting infrastructure development in the ESCAP region.

An Inter-Governmental agreement to formalise the Network was negotiated under UN-ESCAP and was adopted by the ESCAP at its 62nd session at Jakarta in April 2006.

UNI

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