Indian government mulls rail link to Burma

March 5, 2006 Sunday

Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

Text of report by Jamaluddin Ahmed, carried by Indian news agency PTI

New Delhi, 5 March: The union [federal] government is considering a proposal of Indian Railways for setting up of a rail link with neighbouring Myanmar [Burma] through the northeastern states. A feasibility study in this regard has been completed, top level Railway Ministry sources told PTI.

It has suggested construction of a new rail link between Jiribam-Imphal-Moreh (in India) at a cost of 29,410bn rupees, while in Myanmar, it recommended construction of a new rail link between Tamu (Moreh)-Kalay-Segyi at a cost of 13,390bn rupees and rehabilitation of exisiting line from Segyi-Chaungu Myohaung at a of cost of 283bn rupees, sources said.

The Jiribam-Imphal (Tupul) sector is scheduled to be completed by March 2010, they said and added that no decision has been taken with regard to construction and rehabilitation on other sectors. Referring to security concerns in the north-eastern states in case of a rail link with Myanmar, they said that was under constant review.

There are four new ongoing rail line projects in Eastern Railways which are targeted to be completed during 2005-06. The new lines are Deogarh-Sultanganj, Banka-Barhat and Banka-Bhitia Road, Deogarh-Dumka, Tarakeshwar-Bishnupur with extention upto Kumarkundu bypass connecting Howrah-Bardhman Chord and Mandarhill-Rampurhat via Dumka.

In Northeast Frontier Railway, the Railway Ministry sources said there are seven new ongoing projects which, except few, are targeted to be completed by 2010. The seven projects are Eklakhi-Belurghat and Gazole-Itahar (completed), Dudhnoi-Depa, Kumarghat-Agartala (to be completed by 2006-07), Harmuti-Itanagar, Bogibeel Bridge with linking lines between Dibrugarh and North Bank line (by 2009-10), Jiribam-Imphal (2010) and New Moinaguri-Jogighopa.

Besides, there are 13 ongoing doubling projects in Eastern railway and five ongoing Gauge conversion projects in Notheast Frontier Railway excluding one doubling project. Survey has also been conducted for eight new rail projects in the northeastern region. They are Naginimora-Amuri New Line, Bairabi-Sairang/ Aizwal, Bedeti-Itanagar, Jogighopa-Silchar via Panchratna, Kokrajhar-Gelephu (Bhutan), Pathsala-Naglam (Bhutan), Rangia- Samdrupjongkh (Bhutan) and Murkongselek-Pasighat new line.

As per the budget 2005-06, there were 50 ongoing gauge conversion projects in the country requiring over 11,000 crore [one crore is 10m] rupees for completion, which would convert 8,000 kms of lines into broad gauge. Another 935 kms of conversion has been targeted for completion during 2005-06. During the fiscal 2006-07, another 1,100 kms of conversion has been proposed. The completion of all these projects, however, would depend upon availability of resources, the sources said.

Source: PTI news agency, New Delhi, in English 0908 gmt 5 Mar 06