New Indian Railways to be Built Close to Tibet

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By Lauren Chaplin / September 27, 2016;

Photo: indiatoday.in

The Indian Railway has revealed plans to build a railway network in areas located close to Tibet, in reaction to China’s build-up of railway networks in the region. According to Indian media reports, the plan was unveiled following concerns raised by Indian Defence Ministry’s about China building railway tracks close to the Indian border.

In May this year, the Chinese Global Times announced that the status of the Tibet Military Command facing India from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh was to be raised as part of the in-depth reforms instituted by President Xi Jinping.

With an estimated cost of at least INR 22,000 crore, the Indian Railway Ministry has set up an office in Leh, Ladakh to work on the project. Top officials from the ministry have already met locally elected representatives to discuss the railway extension.

The 498-kilometre railway line, which will pass through Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, ultimately reaching Leh, is expected to boost tourism as well as acting as a foil to China’s aggression. According to a report in The Free Press Journal, this follows more recent Indian railway expansions in the Kashmir valley as well as in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Railway Ministry is also seeking to strengthen its network near Nepal, following China’s move to establish a rail link closer to Kathmandu.