Centre approves Trans-Asian Railways through Manipur

Major Events Vol. 3 Issue No. 30

July 1-15, 2007

Centre approves Trans-Asian Railways through Manipur

Inter-governmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway was negotiated under the aegis of the United Nation Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCA)

The Ministry of Railways finally approved the signing and ratification of the Inter-governmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway passing through Manipur. Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu in his written reply to a question in Lok Sabha stated that the Inter-governmental Agreement on Trans-Asian Railway was negotiated under the aegis of the United Nation Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCA) and was opened for signature during the Ministerial Conference on Transport at Busan in November 2006.

The Agreement defined and listed the railway lines of international importance including the missing links and laid down the guiding principles relating to technical characteristics for providing seamless transport on the Trans-Asian Railway network. The Agreement did not estimate the total investment required on the network, it added.

He mentioned that the missing link in India was from Jiribam to Tamu in Myanmar. The construction of this missing link, as per the feasibility study conducted by Ministry of External Affairs through RITES Limited, was estimated to cost Rs 2,941 crore. On this portion, Ministry of Railways had sanctioned construction of the 97 km new rail link between Jiribam and Tupul near Imphal

Meanwhile, Sikkim Governor demanded rail connectivity in Sikkim . Rail connectivity, a long pending demand of Sikkim Government, has got a new advocate in the Governor V Rama Rao as he has spoken strongly in favour of it at the sixth summit of the North Eastern Council on rail connectivity in New Delhi.

Addressing the summit, the Governor said that Sikkim had been awaiting rail connectivity ever since its merger with the Indian Union in 1975 and highlighted the constraints faced by the State in accessing the mainland with only one road connecting it to the rest of the country, an official release said.

Pointing out that railway projects were being taken up even in the trouble-torn areas of the North East, the Governor said the Railways should be keen to do something for Sikkim which was one of the most peaceful States in the country.

“The project for Sikkim could be taken up in the normal budget of the Railways and the tracks could be laid from New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal to Nathula in East Sikkim,” he suggested. The Governor is likely to take up other pending matters pertaining to the State with the Centre before returning Gangtok, the release added.

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