•Sir-India has signed the inter-Governmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railways along with Bangladesh to strengthen rail linkages in the region, especially with South Asian countries and boost trade between Asia and Europe. The agreement was signed on Friday by JP Batra, Chairman of the Railway Board. Indian Railways, on behalf of India on 29th June, 2007.
With India and Bangladesh signing the agreement, 20 countries became signatories of the pact. The 18 other countries had signed the pact at Busan, South Korea on 6th November, 2006. The 80,900-km railway network covers 28 countries including 22,600 km in South Asia, Iran and Turkey. The southern corridor of the network, as decided in an expert group meeting held at Dhaka in 1999, commences from Kunming in China and Bangkok in Thailand and ends in Kapikule in Bulgaria.
The total length of the route between Bangkok and Kapikule is 11,460 kms and it provides trans-continental rail connectivity to China, Thailand , Myanmar , Bangladesh , Pakistan , India , Iran and Turkey. The network will provide an opportunity for improving rail linkages to India’s northeastern states and harmonize the rail network in the region.
The route will enter India at Tamu in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, before going to Bangladesh and re-enter India at Gede in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. On the western 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 is in India between Jiribam and Tamu in Manipur.
The railway network will improve transport linkages between Asia and Europe and facilitate movement of goods and containers among the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, resulting the enhancement of trade.
The said Trans Asian Railway is planned in the interest of 28 countries, and not in the interest of an individual state or country. It is therefore every responsible citizen and organization of any status may view it in the interest of the Euro-Asian people development linkages and support its implementation without undue interference.

G. Gaingam
Former V/President Naga Hoho

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