Indian Railways and Road & Transport Minister Dr. C. P. Joshi has called for enhanced cooperation with Switzerland’s rail sector.
Joshi made the comment after meeting Ms Doris Leuthard of Switzerland (Swiss Confederation), Head of the Department (Federal Councillor) for Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications who was on a visit to India recently.
In her remarks, Dorsi said: “Switzerland is willing to have cooperation with India on transport sector and her country has good expertise in tunnel technology and other infrastructure related sectors.”
Speaking on specific project cooperation, Joshi said: “A letter of intent (LoI) has been signed between Raethische Bann Railway, which operates the Albula – Bernina mountain railway, and in India, Ministry of Railways, which operates the Kalka-Shimla Railway for exchange of technology and cultural values related to world heritage.
“Indian Railway has identified the following areas for mutual cooperation including, technical inputs from the Swiss Mountain Railway for operation, manufacture and maintenance of high-altitude rolling stock and development of world-class panoramic passenger coaches, opportunities for public exposure of heritage and tourism development potential for the people of two countries by providing a glimpse into each other business opportunities,” Dr Joshi said after meeting the Swiss delegation.
The minister also highlighted five major areas of mutual cooperation, including sharing knowledge and information, conducting bilateral exchange programmes, assisting each other through technical collaboration and exchange, striving at joint activities for training and capacity building and considering joint promotional activities for the benefit of local communities and common actions of communication and rising awareness in general.
The Ministry of Railways is exploring areas for technical and commercial exchange with the management of Jungfrau Railway.
Bilateral trade between both the countries for the last five years has been recorded at $4.5 billion and is growing further.
