Indian Railways has agreed to be part of the Trans-Asian Railway Network which will connect Europe and South East Asia, including Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.
The Trans-Asian Railway Network (TARN) comprises 80,900 km of rail routes of international importance.
It aims to offer efficient rail transport services for the movement of goods and passengers within the ESCAP region and between Asia and Europe.
The network will also provide improved access for landlocked countries to major ports.
This project is considered by the United Nations Economics and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) under the Asian Land Infrastructure Development Project.
Indian Railways will be investing $580 million (Rs 3,000 crore) initially to carry out this project, which will be linking about 97 km new rail connection between Jiribam and Tupul (Manipur) in the first phase.
As per the current project status, the rail operations will cover a distance of almost 81,000 km in 26 countries.
According to a Railway Board official, this project will decide the strategic development of the country in future. It will give a boost to its economic activities in other countries and is expected to be complete by 2025.
