Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence minister

[Rashna]

Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence minister says

PANAJI: Indian Railways will soon set up a station in Arunachal Pradesh near the India-China border, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday.

"A draft of the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) is ready and will be signed soon," Parrikar said, adding he has spoken in detail about the project to railway minister Suresh Prabhu.

The defence minister said that the "gravity" of the border issue between China and India has come down as far as Arunachal Pradesh is concerned.


State run China Daily had reported on Thursday that China was planning to build a tunnel under Mount Everest, called Qomolangma in Tibetan, as part of its plan to extend its rail link to Nepal, a move that could send alarm bills ringing in India.


This is the first time a tunnel plan has been revealed to reach Nepal. China had earlier discussed extending the Qinghai-Lhasa line to the Nepalese border without digging a tunnel.

Sources said the idea was to find a short route to Nepal for accessing the vast Indian market. Besides, China might be trying to involve Nepal for its Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) project because New Delhi has shown little enthusiasm for this corridor, sources said.

 

[Rashna]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Maybe some defence expert here can highlight what is the benefit to be derived from this? Is it a knee jerk reaction to China's plan to build a railway from under the Everest in to Nepal? @Ray

 

[sorcerer]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Seems like both sides have a fair understanding about settling border disputes.
The integrated trade corridors and energy corridors by both countries are going to converge.
May be both the countries are hoping for more people to people connect between the regions.


Keeping fingers crossed as how is Pak gonna vector in with China vis a vis India.

 

[prohumanity]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

The real benefit of this Railway station will be in a few years when millions of Indian tourists will ride trains to visit China and millions of Chinese tourists ride to India and trade will flow freely ...in a few years only fools will think of war between India and China as everyone will understand that a war between them MEANS end of the World including end of war mongering nations. Just try imagining ...Thousands of Prithvi and Agni nuke missiles raining on Chinese cities and thousands of Chinese nuke missiles landing on Indian cities....DO YOU LIKE PEACE BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA NOW after imagining this scenario ? Or you still want to instigate war between these two giants ?
China is India's largest trading partner today (about 90 to 100 billion dollar a year) 10 years from now, the trade will grow to 300 billion dollars or more.....who would like war between India and China then? By the way, China -Paki trade is less than 10 billion dollars a year and
in 10 years it might grow to 20 billion dollars a year (IF Paki does not break into pieces due to sectarian conflicts inside) Compare Paki 20 billions to Indian 300 billions ! Even a second grade Math student can see it clearly...(.Chinises are much much better in Math.)

 

[indiandefencefan]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

A railway connection to Arunanchal Pradesh is s long delayed necessity. Linking the region to the country can further help cement our territorial claims to the region just as the chinese have been building highways in aksai chin and then claiming the area.
This can be further completed by the govt. encouraging settlement in the region.
Its fresh change to see the govt. being proactive in matters concerning to our territorial ambitions.

 

[sorcerer]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

The real benefit of this Railway station will be in a few years when millions of Indian tourists will ride trains to visit China and millions of Chinese tourists ride to India and trade will flow freely ...in a few years only fools will think of war between India and China as everyone will understand that a war between them MEANS end of the World including end of war mongering nations. Just try imagining ...Thousands of Prithvi and Agni nuke missiles raining on Chinese cities and thousands of Chinese nuke missiles landing on Indian cities....DO YOU LIKE PEACE BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA NOW after imagining this scenario ? Or you still want to instigate war between these two giants ?
China is India's largest trading partner today (about 90 to 100 billion dollar a year) 10 years from now, the trade will grow to 300 billion dollars or more.....who would like war between India and China then? By the way, China -Paki trade is less than 10 billion dollars a year and
in 10 years it might grow to 20 billion dollars a year (IF Paki does not break into pieces due to sectarian conflicts inside) Compare Paki 20 billions to Indian 300 billions ! Even a second grade Math student can see it clearly...(.Chinises are much much better in Math.)

Trade is not a deciding factor in war between countries.

Trade between India and China is on the dip YoY, but that has not stopped both the countries from talking to settle disputes.
Bilateral trade between Russia and India is quiet low but both the nations are well bonded.
So again, trade is one factor but not factor that decides peace between countries.

The trade between China and Pakistan is Zilch when compared to India but we can see CHina using Pakistan for strategic edge.

People to people connect between nations will enable better understanding between both nations. These transport lines will help local business and trade in the area. Apart from that for peace larger dynamics will come into play that include strategic objectives of individual nations and the meddling west and many of its hypothetical pivots.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Indian Railways, Connecting people ..

Their is lot more to go ..

 

[Anikastha]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Good step...

 

[sandilya]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

I would like to know more details about this. This report does not mention where exactly the new station would be built or which railway line would be extended. Will it be connected to Tezpur or will it be frm Harmuti?

Anyone with these details, please share

 

[prohumanity]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Of Course....trade has a major factor in avoiding wars between nations in current world. The power and destructive capacity of the weapons is such that a war between two very militarily strong nations lead to Mutually Assured Destruction. Its not 1940s anymore that the one with Nukes could defeat the one without nukes...times have changed. In case of war the devastation to Indian and Chinese economy (also global economy) will be so huge that it will set these two nations hundreds of year in the past. This reality is gong to be major deterrent.
India Pakistan war is a different matter due to disproportionate military strength ...Paki can be wiped out completely from map and India can lose about 10 % of its resources and capacity (but still will survive and recover)
The reasons for Russia-India bonding (1) Russia's strong support to India in UN and solid and reliable partnership in military arena. Russia empowered India when no western nation was willing to provide even a rifle bullet to Indian Army. (2) There has been a bond of affection and mutual respect between Indian and Russian people which was cultivated in last 60 years. That bond still remains strong among people. Russia never insulted or undermined India and Indians respect Russia for that.
China's use of Pakistan is out of fear of India ...its hedging the bets....in case India joins Anti_China Western pivot . In fact, it is Pakistan who is exaggerating its ties with China . Every other day, Paki leaders run with their begging bowl to White House (And not to Beijing) BTW, last week ,it was USA who gave Pakistan 1 Billion dollars to buy weapons. Follow the money..sorcerer...people put money in mouthb of the ones who they consider friends. Its still the same Old Axis: US+ Sauidi+ Pakistan. Even if we don't like it.I forgot to mention that Iraq was attacked and invaded because it did not have Nukes.....Russia can not be attacked or invaded due to those Satan(SS-18) Iskander missiles and other devastating weaponry. Do you see similarity between Kuwait and Crimea ...same type of history in both these places but totally different outcome.

 

[Ray]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Maybe some defence expert here can highlight what is the benefit to be derived from this? Is it a knee jerk reaction to China's plan to build a railway from under the Everest in to Nepal? @Ray

In a war with India, China, who has scant regards for international niceties, can overcome Nepalese sovereignty, and push troops and materiel through faster by railway than by road and pose a threat to India from Nepal.

 

[Rashna]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Shouldn't we put pressure on Nepal to stop it? I mean better we overcome their sovereignty than China. Just saying....

In a war with India, China, who has scant regards for international niceties, can overcome Nepalese sovereignty, and push troops and materiel through faster by railway than by road and pose a threat to India from Nepal.

 

[Ray]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

It is being done at the instance of the Nepal Govt.

 

[Rashna]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Okai......

It is being done at the instance of the Nepal Govt.

 

[brational]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

It is impossible to take the railways near the Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Its already is, Just 100km from LAC ( Broad Gauge ) ..

We are just making it more flexible ..

It is impossible to take the railways near the Chinese border in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

[brational]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Its already is, Just 100km from LAC ( Broad Gauge ) ..

We are just making it more flexible ..

Which sector of Arunachal Pradesh? Since I am from this region, not a single point within 100 km from Chinese border can be connected with a rail link. Then again, I am not aware of any project which has been taken up for this purpose. A precise location of the so called station will give us a better idea of the development. If you have any info..

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Their are no specific yet released on open net ..

============

Arunachal pradesh has broad gauge at Naharlagun, Bhalukapong station, I assume more lines will be constructed in way of narrow or meter gauge like in Kalka ..

Most possibly major cities within your region are being connected internally ? ..

Lets wait for more information ..

 

[Ray]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

We shall know in time, Their are no specific yet released on open net ..

============

Arunachal pradesh has broad gauge at Naharlagun station, I assume more lines will be constructed in way of narrow or meter gauge ..

Most possibly major cities within your region ..

I wonder if narrow and meter gauge will be used.

It will require a complete new rolling stock and also transshipment.

It will also reduce tonnage and troops being moved to the front, in peace and more so, in war, when it will be critical.

Government gives go-ahead to 4 strategic rail lines along China border

The government has kick-started the process of building four top-priority strategic railway lines along the China border — a project that had been stuck in deliberations for years for want of a political decision at the highest level.

Last week, at a high-level meeting with officials from the Planning Commission, Defence, Railways and Finance ministries, the PMO finally asked the Railways to carry out detailed engineering survey of the 1,000-odd kilometres of lines identified by the Defence Ministry as strategically crucial. They are in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and J&K.

The Railways has been given time till next month to come up with a cost of the detailed survey, which will be borne by the government (Defence/Finance). Sources said the cost of the engineering survey could be around Rs 200 crore.

The identified lines are Missamari-Tawang (378 km) in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh; North Lakhimpur-Along-Silapathar (248 km) in Assam, Murkongselek-Pasighat-Tezu-Parashuram Kund-Rupai (256 km) in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh; and Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh (498 km) in Himachal Pradesh-Jammu and Kashmir. The detailed engineering survey, kind of detailed project report, is the blueprint based on which work is commissioned.

The Railways has informed the PMO that the topography and the geology is such that most of the lines are in the fault and folds of the Himalayan range, which involves stupendous engineering challenges. This means boring railway tunnels through geologically treacherous terrain.

"We had quite a few geological surprises holding up the numerous tunnel works in the Kashmir line many years ago. From that experience, we are sure that these lines will also throw up such surprises. So the detailed engineering survey has to be thorough," said a Railway Board source.

The survey will take around two years to complete but sources in the Railways said given the priority attached to it, they might be asked to expedite as well. But a detailed engineering exercise like this cannot be needlessly rushed as well, officials said.

These four lines are part of the 14 strategically important lines of the armed forces to be used presumably for supplies for the Army and troops movement in times of need.

The list was drawn up by the Services based on inputs from the operational commands and validated from an operational and logistics perspective. All these years, the government had been indecisive about who would fund the lines. Railways had been telling the government that it would make the lines but cannot fund it because of financial difficulties and also citing the fact that the lines were not part of its operational needs. The matter had been stuck at that.

Soon after coming to power, the new government has been holding meetings at the Cabinet Secretariat level to arrive at the decision on this. The lines are part of the government programme of building permanent transport infrastructure along the international borders for strategic purposes.
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...to-4-strategic-rail-lines-along-china-border/

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Re: Indian Railways to build station near Chinese border, defence mini

Was very informative, Sir ..