A senior official from the railways explained that lack of adequate infrastructure on the borders is one of India’s most pressing strategic vulnerabilities.
The government has kick-started the construction of four strategic railway lines along the China, Nepal and Pakistan borders. These four lines are part of the 14 strategically important lines of the armed forces to be used for supplies for Army and troops movement in times of need. The railways has given an estimate of Rs 345 crore for a final location survey (FSL) of the proposed railway lines. The cost will be borne by the defence ministry which will provide Rs 87.18 crore to railways in 2016-2017 for examination of strategic points. The railways will not fund all the 14 projects as it did not find them commercially viable.
A senior official from the railways explained that lack of adequate infrastructure on the borders is one of India’s most pressing strategic vulnerabilities. These 14 railway lines will strenghthen India’s borders. The government’s move to expedite construction of these 14 railway lines assumes significance in the wake of China’s agressive building of infrastructure near border areas. Having already constructed and operationalised a spectacular rail network in Tibet, China also announced the need to stretch its railway link through Nepal to its border with Bihar. The railways have decided to carry out a phase-wise final survey on the feasibility of the construction of these 14 railway lines. Four of them will be taken up for FSL in the first phase.
The Minister of State for railways Rajen Gohain, said none of these projects have been sanctioned. “All projects pass through very difficult terrains of the Himalayas. Stability, geology, construction, maintainance and safety issues need examination,” he said.
India identified 28 strategic railway lines in the areas bordering China, Pakistan and Nepal in 2010. The official proposal for 28 strategic railway lines along the northern borders was sent by the Army headquarters to defence ministry in January 2010. After a series of interactions with the railway officials, the defence ministry reappraised the proposal in Nov 2010 and prioritised 14 of the 28 lines. The then Defence minister AK Antony accorded “in principle” approval to these 14 railway lines, calling them strategically vital.
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