NEW DELHI: A major initiative has been launched by the railways of India and Myanmar to work on a 315 km "missing rail link" to ensure cross-border travel and freight movement. On its part, India has already sanctioned funds for the construction of a 100-km patch on its side.

"There have been discussions going on between the railways of the two countries and things so far have been very smooth. Both sides have agreed to work towards forging this new relationship to complete the missing link of 315 km. We are taking up construction of 100 km of the link on the Indian side and the rest will also be completed in due course of time. It is likely to cost around Rs.1,100 crore," Railway Board Chairman J.P. Batra told presspersons here.

Mr. Batra is also the first non-European chairperson of the International Union of Railways, which is organising a three-day "Global rail freight conference" beginning here on Thursday.

The rail links with Pakistan and Bangladesh were running smoothly, Mr. Batra said. However, there was a break-up in the link between India and Myanmar to a length of 315 km. "Out of this missing link, 100 km on the India side has been sanctioned and discussions are on for the completion of the project. The Ministry of External Affairs is going into the issue of how the project could be funded. Myanmar has shown considerable interest and I am sure very shortly we will reach an agreement on the funding pattern." Progress had been made on the North-South link — Russia with India via Iran. Similarly, a corridor connecting China with India through Myanmar was also under consideration. The Governments of India, China and Myanmar were keen on putting in place a multi-modal transport system between their countries as part of a strategy to forge Asian links.

Mr. Batra said India would sign a Trans-Asia Railway Agreement by the middle of the year in the United Nations, with the Union Cabinet passing it recently.

"There have been some discussions between Russia and Iran for having a rail link. This is quite significant and could well be the link of the future for India."

Policy planners from major railways across the globe have gathered here to chalk out a plan for promoting early construction of "missing rail links" in the Trans-Asian network in order to tap the vast economic potential.

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