Trivedi: Connecting call

New Delhi, March 5: Railway minister Dinesh Trivedi aims to build a network that will connect all South Asian countries, like Eurorail which enables passengers to travel nearly all over Europe. As part of this initiative, the railways have lined up projects with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

The rail budget for 2012-2013 is expected to allocate funds for a 15km track between Bangladesh and Agartala, connecting the Northeast with the neighbouring country.

A track to Biratnagar in Nepal is also likely to be part of the budget. “We have four projects with Nepal. We will be working on them,” Trivedi said in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph. The minister, however, didn’t comment on the projects to be included in this year’s budget.

“Bhutan is keen on railway links which we will push through, too, this year,” Trivedi added.

The move to connect the northern neighbours comes after China connected Lhasa in Tibet with Beijing and started work on a rail line to Khasa on the Nepal-Tibet border.

Since then, India has stepped up measures to use its 64,000 km rail network to connect to its South Asian neighbours to boost trade and strategic ties.

The first of the India-Nepal projects to link Jogbani in Bihar to Biratnagar in Nepal will be set up at a cost of Rs 238 crore. This project is expected to be completed by 2014.

The second proposal is a Rs 446.72-crore project for gauge conversion from Jayanagar in India to Bijalpura in Nepal, with extension up to Bardibas.

Another Rs 700 crore will be spent on a 12km link between Nepalganj Road in India to Nepalganj, while a 15km track is expected to connect Nautanwa in India to Bhairwaha in Nepal.

“We are in talks with Bangladesh for a number of ambitious projects where I will be guided by the ministry of external affairs,” Trivedi said.

India is helping Bangladesh to set up coach factories and revamp its railway infrastructure. While Dhaka already has rail links to Calcutta, there are plans to start trains to various destinations in India from Bangladesh, including Ajmer.

The minister said, “We will be working to expand the railway network, especially into the Northeast, hilly and remote areas, for example with Sikkim. My leader Mamata Banerjee has taken steps to link India with Bangladesh. We will aim to deepen these links and take our railway network to link up with other neighbouring nations.”