We have no money for strategic rail lines: Antony

[Major Shaitan Singh]

At the commissioning of INS Sahyadri Defence Minister AK Antony got candid and accepted that his ministry does not have money to spare for the construction of strategic railway lines along the northern and north-eastern borders along the Indo-China border. Adding that even Indian Railways did not have funds for it, Antony exhorted the government should take up the cause in the interest of the country.

“Railway has no money. We also do not have any money,” Antony said candidly.

“We have informed the government that this project should be taken up by the government as it strategically very important,” the Defence Minister added.

As reported earlier (China reaches at India's doorsteps ) even as China was building rail and road network along its side of the border at a fast pace, the Indian government is still deliberating on the idea of who will finance the construction of these 14 strategic lines. The Defence Ministry then proposed to construct six high priority strategic lines bordering China at the cost of Rs. 80,000 crore. However, the Finance Ministry has refused to cough even that for “commercially non-viable” rail lines.

 

[T90TankGuy]

actually its the babus in the finance dept who usually veto ideas , i know as i am dealing with these "gentlemen" and i use the phrase loosely .

my company has bid for a project . i am the POC for it with the govt . its held up in the finance ministry (probably for the next one year) its like trying to squeeze blood out of a stone.

 

[Tshering22]

How would he have any funds if his mistress and her inbred pup stuff all the national wealth up their rears?

 

[angeldemon_007]

MOD shouldn't have to spend on road and railways. This should be taken by respective ministry's of govt. MOD has alot on its plate already, if the spend on building roads then wither GOI increase the defence budget, which will not make them look good and will prompt more increase from neighboring countries.

In short roads and railways should be built by respective ministry's considering its who will be maintain them.

 

[INDIAISM]

I think it will be better if we have a Railway Project to Link India with Bhutan,Myanmar,Combodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,Nepal,Malaysia,Indonesia Railway line should go through Arunachal Pradesh.....this will provide a massive boost to our trade with these countries and other east asian countries Japan,Korea..and its obvious stratergic purpose will also be solved....

Isse kahenge Aam ke Aam Gutlio ke daam

And not to forget you can easily get finance from World Bank,imf or asian bank for this project...

 

[INDIC]

I think it will be better if we have a Railway Project to Link India with Bhutan,Myanmar,Combodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,Nepal,Malaysia,Indonesia Railway line should go through Arunachal Pradesh.....this will provide a massive boost to our trade with these countries and other east asian countries Japan,Korea..and its obvious stratergic purpose will also be solved....

Isse kahenge Aam ke Aam Gutlio ke daam

And not to forget you can easily get finance from World Bank,imf or asian bank for this project...

Such rail projects already planned and being executed. But I don't think we could have connection with Indonesia.

 

[Hulk]

Forget about strategic interest, these roads and rail link should be built to help people of north east. Currently they have to travel a lot and not connected well with rest of India.

 

[RISING SUN]

I think it will be better if we have a Railway Project to Link India with Bhutan,Myanmar,Combodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,Nepal,Malaysia,Indonesia Railway line should go through Arunachal Pradesh.....this will provide a massive boost to our trade with these countries and other east asian countries Japan,Korea..and its obvious stratergic purpose will also be solved....

Isse kahenge Aam ke Aam Gutlio ke daam

And not to forget you can easily get finance from World Bank,imf or asian bank for this project...

Railway links to adjacent countries
Existing rail links:

Nepal – Break-of-gauge – Gauge conversion under uni-gauge project
Pakistan Pakistan – same Broad Gauge. Thar Express to Karachi and the more famous Samjhauta Express international train from Lahore, Pakistan to Amritsar (Attari).
Bangladesh Bangladesh – Same Broad Gauge. The Maitri Express between Dhaka and Kolkata started in April 2008 using the Gede-Darsana route, in addition to a Freight Train service from Singhabad and Petrapole in India to Rohanpur and Benapole in Bangladesh A second passenger link between Agartala, India and Akhaura Upazila, Bangladesh was approved by the Government of India in September 2011.
Under construction / Proposed links:
Bhutan – railways under construction – Same gauge
Myanmar – Manipur to Myanmar (under construction)
China China – Indian Railways and rail authorities in People's Republic of China are interested in starting a high-speed rail link that would link New Delhi with Kunming, China via Myanmar. The rail link would utilize the under construction railway from Manipur, India to Myanmar and the under construction railway from Kunming to Myanmar.
Vietnam – On 9 April 2010, Former Union Minister of India, Shashi Tharoor announced that the central government is considering a rail link from Manipur to Vietnam via Myanmar.
Thailand- possible if Burma Railway is rebuilt.Would also allow trains to Malaysia and Singapore.

 

[RISING SUN]

I think it will be better if we have a Railway Project to Link India with Bhutan,Myanmar,Combodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,Nepal,Malaysia,Indonesia Railway line should go through Arunachal Pradesh.....this will provide a massive boost to our trade with these countries and other east asian countries Japan,Korea..and its obvious stratergic purpose will also be solved....

Isse kahenge Aam ke Aam Gutlio ke daam

And not to forget you can easily get finance from World Bank,imf or asian bank for this project...

That doesn't make sense at all buddy. If you wanna go for only strategic reasons,it's justified but economic reasons. Forget it. Southern most north east states are more economically suited to connect with India & South east Asia. Only China & to a limited extent Myanmar is looking good. Even Myanmar has no big big city or economic development which will affect hte economy of scale. For China forget it, are dreaming buddy. They are claiming it,so forget this option. So India can connect AP with Assam,Nagaland,Bhutan in adjacent areas.

 

[illuminatidinesh]

Lol shall I donate it from my salary then?

 

[tvsram1992]

We have two options ,
1. Deploy strategic rail lines to counter China .
2. Raise a Brahmos/Prithvi squadrons that can destroy Chinese lines .
Option 2 is better one , Anti-X is followed by countries when they dont have money to deploy any thing against X .

 

[trinity]

Even if you lack the funds, don;t advertise such info publicly. These guys know nothing about the ART OF WAR....rookies

 

[jbond197]

Even if you lack the funds, don;t advertise such info publicly. These guys know nothing about the ART OF WAR....rookies

They are suffering because of brain drain in you..