18.6.15

Kunming-Kolkata Railway Link planned

It could be a new Silk Route. China proposes to build a high-speed railway line between Kunming in the southwest of the country and Kolkata. The link would be part of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor aimed at boosting trade and relations.
The proposed 3,000 km rail corridor, starting from the capital city of Yunnan province and passing through Myanmar and Bangladesh, could be funded through China's Silk Road development fund or the Asian Infrastructure fund. “The proposal has been discussed with India and other countries. It will be beneficial for all of us as it will facilitate trade and people-to-people contact,“ Li Jiming, Vice Secretary General of Yunnan province,said. “We could fund the project through the Asian Infrastructure Bank and other agencies.“
The rail corridor will pass through Mandalay in Myanmar and the Bangladeshi cities of Chittagong and Dhaka before entering West Bengal and ending in Kolkata. The economic corridor project, along the old southern Silk Route, envisages the building of transport, energy and telecommunication networks. The four countries have agreed to build and encourage road, rail, air and waterways connecting each other, besides laying power transmission lines and oil pipe lines. China has started building a highway network. “We are already constructing network of highways in our domestic territory bordering Myanmar. Response from Bangladesh and India is also encouraging,“ Jiming said.
The corridor will harness economic activity, promote investment and trade and facilitate people-to-people contact. To promote the concept, China organised the China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, where more than 100 Indian companies, including Tata Group firms, Infosys and Jet Airways participated.

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