NEW DELHI: India is laying new railway lines along its eastern frontier with China to strengthen connectivity, improve freight movement, and enhance military preparedness in the event of deteriorating bilateral relations.
According to an official associated with the project, the approved plan includes the construction of 500 kilometres, approximately 310 miles, of railway lines featuring multiple bridges and tunnels.
Work has already begun on connecting remote areas near the borders with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan to the national railway network.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official revealed that the project is confidential, with an estimated government expenditure of around 30 trillion taka and a four-year completion target.
However, recent signs of warming ties between India and China may help ensure that India’s infrastructural push also serves as a long-term development strategy, rather than merely a short-term security measure.
Five years after the border clashes, the two neighbours are seeking to improve relations, driven by economic opportunities and shifts in the global trade environment under U.S. President Donald Trump. India’s new rail corridor will complement its extensive road infrastructure developed over the past decade.
A total of 9,984 kilometres of new roads has already been built at a cost of 1.07 trillion rupees, while another 5,055 kilometres are currently under construction. These projects are expected to improve civilian mobility while also boosting India’s ability to respond quickly during natural disasters and military emergencies.
A source further indicated that India is building a new airport in the eastern border region, specifically designed for helicopters and military aircraft. The site has remained unused since 1962.
Plans are also underway to expand railway lines in northern Ladakh, where tensions with China remain high. Currently, India’s railway network extends to Baramulla in Kashmir, an area disputed between India and Pakistan. Officially, government representatives have declined to comment on these developments.
Since the Doklam standoff in 2017, China has accelerated its own construction projects, building airports, helipads, and other infrastructure to facilitate troop and equipment movement for the People’s Liberation Army.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stressed the importance of developing communication and transport infrastructure in sensitive border regions.
This includes the construction of 1,450 kilometres of new roads along the Pakistan border and near Doklam, a plateau claimed by both China and Bhutan, adjacent to India’s border. Earlier this year, Modi inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge, connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country. - The Statesman/ANN
