During an event organized by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Indian Ministry of Railways and OSJD officials from South and South-West Asian governments along with others experts met in New Delhi to discuss the expansion of cross border rail connectivity. The new rail connection was proposed on Turkey-Iran-Pakistan-India-Bangladesh-Myanmar axis. For this project, the participants discussed the technical and operational aspects of the ITI-DKD-Y rail corridor proposal.
Matthew Hammill, acting head of the South and South-West Asia Office of ESCAP, said that research and consultations with key stakeholders had helped to identify a rail corridor which would link South and South-West Asia to Central Asia and Europe. This includes a proposal for seamless rail connectivity by extending the Istanbul–Tehran–Islamabad (ITI) Container Train to Delhi-Kolkata-Dhaka (DKD). This corridor could further extend to Yangon (Myanmar) to become the ITI–DKD-Y Rail Corridor. The creation of this corridor is a key part of the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) network that is backed by ESCAP member States. The Indian Railways 2017-18 Business Plan has prioritized an international rail corridor linking Istanbul to Dhaka via Delhi and Kolkata, Mohammed Jamshed, Member Traffic on Indian Ministry of Railways, said.
“International rail transport connectivity can potentially become one of the largest sources of growth and development in Southern Asia,” Suresh Prabhu, India’s Minister of Railways said.
Prabhu noted that the trade volumes of South Asia, which is currently far below its true potential, could increase significantly if rail transport was effectively used as a medium of cargo transport. He added that railways could provide viable alternatives to haul international cargo, making trade far more competitive for the subregion, while also serving as an environment-friendly mode of transport.
At the meeting the participants discussed their initiatives with regional neighbours in completing infrastructure and transport facilitation to make cross-border rail transport operational.
Participants also discussed their initiatives with regional neighbours in completing infrastructure and transport facilitation to make cross-border rail transport operational. The meeting also deliberated on technical and operational aspects of the ITI-DKD-Y rail corridor proposal. ESCAP officials and representatives from OSJD also discussed closing railway transport processes gaps through regional/international arrangements such as the Regional Cooperation Framework for Facilitation of International Railway Transport adopted by countries of Asia and the Pacific. It was noted that such a Framework could be a guiding document to help countries overcome operational challenges and non-physical barriers, especially where cross-country rail infrastructure already exists.
Share on:
