Railways Must Look East

By SN Mathur

In the highly competitive world economy of today, transport cost is a significant determinant of competitiveness, which makes an efficient surface transport network a concomitant for better economic integration. Somehow, the surface transport networks in several parts of Asia continue to be fragmented, and consequently their potential as instruments of economic growth at the regional level has not been fully realised.

The idea of linking the railway networks of Asia, to provide international connections—not only between the region’s countries but also with the Middle Eastern and European systems—was first expressed in the ’60s by initiating the Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) project. The objective was to shorten transit times between nations and regions and serve as a tool for their economic growth through expansion of international trade. Besides, because transporting goods by rail is faster than through the sea, rail connectivity was expected to reduce transport cost substantially. Rail can also carry a much higher volume of freight traffic than road.

The TAR envisages the creation of an integrated freight railway network across Europe and Asia. When the idea was conceived, the objective was to provide a continuous 14,000km rail link between Singapore and Istanbul, with possible onward links to Europe and Africa. Today, the network has about 81,000km of rail routes—the 12,600km Southeast Asia corridor, the 32,500km Northeast Asia corridor, the 13,200km Central Asia and Caucasus corridor and the 22,600km South Asia-Iran-Turkey corridor—and connects 28 countries.

In a major policy decision, the Indian Railways has agreed to participate in the TAR link between Europe and Southeast Asia. The project, being considered by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific under the Asian Land Infrastructure Development Project, will help identify and evaluate the development and operation of a network of routes between South Asia and Europe. The routes are supposed to run via Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. The growth of international trade, continued surge of containerised freight through the ports of Asia-Pacific and the recognition of greater regional integration are encouraging countries to seek efficient connectivity through transport networks. It provides the railways of the region an opportunity to upgrade their existing infrastructure with the aim of defining and operating international corridors.

With this in mind, the countries involved decided to define a framework within which they can discuss and plan the future expansion and operation of the Trans-Asian Railway Network. The Ministerial Conference on Transport held in Korea in 2006 adopted a Regional Action Programme for Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific. It aimed to promote an integrated approach to transport planning with a view to facilitating efficient logistics in the region. Accordingly, 18 member states signed the inter-governmental agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network that formalises the coordinated development of TAR. Other countries, including India, signed the agreement in the subsequent years. It envisages completion of the ambitious project by 2025.

The economies of south and Southeast Asia have been growing rapidly due to easing of trade barriers, increase in foreign direct investment and greater integration with the global economy. However, intra-regional trade and investment has been relatively limited because of various bottlenecks in trade infrastructure. Increased connectivity between the two sub-regions can help improve industrial efficiency and productivity, expanding the market size and ensuring long-term economic prosperity.

India has demonstrated its economic and technological capabilities for further integration with the regional and global economy. Myanmar being the only land bridge between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations and India, its importance as a regional logistics and trading hub cannot be overstated. Rail connectivity between India and Myanmar is completely absent. Indian Railways has, therefore, agreed to build a 350km route between India and Myanmar, which will require about `3,000 crore, part of which will be borne by Myanmar. In the first phase it will take up construction of 97km new rail connection between Jiribam and Tupul (Manipur) costing `728 crore. Later, this link will be extended to Moreh inside Myanmar territory. These links would eventually be integrated into the proposed Trans-Asian Railway Network.

With the construction of a rail corridor between India and Myanmar, India will be linked by rail to Southeast Asia, and eventually to China, its largest trading partner in Asia, registering about $ 60 billion worth of trade last year alone. The recent political reform process in Myanmar now makes possible rail and road connectivity between south and Southeast Asia that did not appear feasible a few years ago. The implementation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement has further facilitated intra-regional trade and investment liberalisation. It is particularly important in the context of India’s Look East policy which cannot be operationalised without the participation of the Northeast.

For various historical and political reasons, the Northeast has remained cut off from its economic and social ties with neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh and China, and has had to depend for almost all its supplies from mainland India only. The new rail connectivity, that shall be a part of the TAR network, will help transform the region’s economy, serving as a corridor for movement of raw material, semi-finished and finished products. It can also play a pivotal role in the development of commerce and cultural exchange with the Southeast Asian countries. Manipur can then become one of the key links not only between India and Myanmar but also between the whole of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The new Indian government has realised the urgency of fast-tracking infrastructure development of the region by appointing a former Army chief to head the ministry of north east development. This will accelerate the progress of various projects incorporated in the North Eastern Region Vision Document 2020 aimed at promoting the flow of peoples and goods, expansion of communication networks, opening up of markets and generating employment.

The author is a former MD of Railway Finance Corporation.

E-mail: mathur.surendra@gmail.com

Fake PhD Degree Scam: Meghalaya HC Grants Bail To 'Accused'

Shillong, Jun 5 : The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Chandra Mohan Jha who was arrested after his CMJ University was found selling fake PhD degrees to thousands of students all over the country.

"The court has granted bail to CM Jha today," DGP PJP Hanaman told a news agency.

While the hearing was going on in the court, the CID officials were busy raiding Jha's residence in the city from where they seized Rs 10,37,300 and USD 3,800.

During the search carried out under the supervision of the DIG H Marbaniang and SSP Claudia Lyngwa, police found several other incriminating evidences against Jha.

The search was made a day after a local court relieved Jha of the police attaching his property. Jha founded the first self-financed university, the CMJ University, in Meghalaya in 2009. The varsity has awarded a record number of 434 PhD degrees between 2012 and 2013 apart from registering 490 more PhD scholars in violation of the UGC norms.

Chakmas Threaten To Boycott MDC Bypoll in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jun 4 : Mizoram government has sent armed police troops to thwart possible communal violence in the poll-bound Borapansury-II town under Chakma autonomous district council (CADC) in southern Mizoram.

Chakma organisations have threatened to boycott by-election to the Borapansury-II MDC (member of district council) seat slated for tomorrow, in protest against allocation of land to the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo Students' Association) within Borapansury-II.


Different Chakma organisations, under the leadership of Young Chakma Association (YCA), during a public meeting on Saturday, demanded removal a signboard erected by MZP on the allocated land on or before today, failing which they would boycott the bypoll.

The state food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department had given its portion of land in Borapansury-II to the MZP for construction of Zofate Chawlhbuk (a rest house for the Mizos), which has flared up communal tension between Chakmas and Mizos.

The MZP has since long back alleged Chakma infiltration in the area from Bangladesh and has felt a strong need to construct a rest house in the Chakma-dominated area to assert ownership of Mizoram territory.

Home minister R Lalzirliana last evening failed to persuade the MZP leaders to remove the signboard even for a while. Hundreds of MZP activists have started camping in the area to make sure that the signboard is not removed. The MZP alleged that Chakma pollution in southern Mizoram has abnormally increased during the last few years.

"The rapid population of Chakmas, which is against natural population growth, indicates nothing but large-scale influx of Chakma foreigners from Bangladesh," MZP president Lalhmachhuana said. The alleged Chakma foreigners' infiltration is said to be much higher in Lunglei district than the Chakma autonomous district council, both bordering Bangladesh.

"We will take steps to drive out Chakma foreigners from Mizoram. We will pursue the matter with the Prime Minister office, as we have high hopes on Narendra Modi who had promised to drive out Bangladeshi migrants from the Northeast," the student leader said.

PRISM Slams Govt For Spending Rs 288 Lakh For Purchasing Cars

Aizawl, Jun 4 : Aizawl-based corruption watchdog People's Rights to Information and Development Society of Mizoram (PRISM) slammed the Mizoram government for spending Rs 288 lakh on purchase of cars for legislators.

PRISM, in a press statement said that 36 out of 40 legislators were already given Rs eight lakh each for purchase of private cars since the new assembly was constituted in December last year.

"Out of the 40 legislators only ten of them were not allotted any vehicle by the state government and they were the only ones who required cars," the statement said.

It accused the government of not enforcing austerity measures despite acute financial crunch being faced by the state.

"Twelve ministers, speaker, deputy speaker and seven parliamentary secretaries were already allotted government cars, that also more than one car each," it said, adding that fifteen legislators were also allotted official vehicles due to their positions like chairmen of corporate bodies and others.

If only ten legislators, not allotted official vehicles were given money to purchase cars, the government would spend only Rs 80 lakh, the statement added.

Education For Poor Students From Northeast India

Imphal, Jun 4 : The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) in collaboration with a Hyderabad-based educational foundation will facilitate free higher education to poor students of the region.

Announcing this here today, Neso secretary-general Sinam Prakash said he would leave for Hyderabad on Thursday to meet officials of Dr YSR Educational and Welfare Foundation to finalise the matter.The foundation offers free education to students of the Northeast through Neso. The courses offered include four-year bachelor degree in technical and medicinal courses.

Around 1,000 poor students of the Northeast belonging to SC, ST, OBC and minority categories can be accommodated in an academic session.

The foundation has promised free education for poor students in MNR Engineering College, MNR Pharmacy Nursing College, MNR Dental College, PIRM Engineering College, PRRM Engineering College, Samskruti College of Engineer and Technology, Bhandari Srinivas Institute of Technology and Raja Mahendra College of Engineering and Technology.

Prakash said these institutes reserve 20 per cent seats for poor and needy students.

“This is a project through which a meritorious poor student can study any professional degree completely free of cost. This project is implemented only to remove educational backwardness from poor sections of society,” the management of the foundation informed Neso in a letter.

Prakash said the foundation’s offer would immensely help poor and backward students of the region where higher technical educational institutions were scarce.

“Every year a large number of students seek higher technical education outside the region. However, poor parents cannot send their children outside, even if they are talented,” he said.

Appreciating the initiative of the foundation, Prakash said education is the best tool for the region’s development.

“This is the first time that deserving students of the region will complete get free education. They do not need to pay any tuition fees, library fees, laboratory fees or hostel fees,” he said. Prakash said after finalising everything Neso would sign an MOU with the management of the foundation on the free courses.

Students belonging to the SC, ST, OBC and minority categories and whose parents’ annual income is less than 2.5 lakh with a minimum pass percentage of 50 can apply though the constituent organisation of Neso.

Bangladesh Seizes 100 Rocket Launchers Near India border

Dhaka, Jun 4 : Police in northeastern Bangladesh recovered a huge cache of illegal arms on Tuesday, including more than 100 rocket launchers, in a forest near the border with an insurgency-hit part of India.

A Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) commander in Habiganj district said they found the arms and ammunition at Satchhari forest range two days after launching a search following a tip-off.

"So far we have recovered more than 100 rocket launchers and several sacks full of ammunition and other military gadgets," RAB commander Shaminur Rahman told AFP.

"The arms and ammunition were hidden in five deep trenches in the forest. We've not completed our search yet."

The recovery comes at a time when the elite force, which has been described by New York-based Human Rights Watch as a "death squad", has been under fire over accusations that members were involved in the abduction and murder of seven people in April.

The RAB did not comment on who the consignment, one of the largest seizures in recent years, was meant for.

In 2004 10 trucks full of arms and ammunition intended for an Indian insurgent group were seized in the port city of Chittagong, the biggest-ever arms haul in Bangladesh's history.

India's remote northeastern region, which borders Bangladesh, is home to dozens of tribal groups and small guerrilla armies fighting New Delhi's rule.

Northeast India AIDS Cases Show Alarming Trend

Imphal, Jun 4 : There has been an alarming annual rise of new HIV cases in the North Eastern states from 5549 (new cases) in 2001 to 6460 (new cases) in 2011. The total number of HIV infected persons in the whole North East region is 63,049 cases with Manipur leading the list with 25369 cases and Sikkim recording the lowest with just 593 cases.

This is just a contrast to the national trend where the overall decline rate in India is 57% recorded from 2001 to 2011.

This data was revealed during a three-day conclave entitled, "North East Conclave" organised by Manipur State AIDS Control Societies and Partners at Hotel Classic here today.

Addressing the programme, Oussama Tawil who is the co-ordinator of UNAIDS in India said they are now shifting their focus to the North East region saying concerted awareness has begun in this regard.

He said funding has begun and the study is also underway in the region. Oussama Tawil seeks the co-operation of the locals and NGOs working in this field. "Without their support we are helpless," said Tawil.

K. B. Agarwal who is the Joint Secretary of Department of AIDS Control (DAC), Government of India, stated that the method of fighting AIDS in mainland India cannot be applied in the North East region. Agarwal said situation in the North East region is very different from the rest of India and suggested to have measures that suit the region while fighting the disease.

Source: Newmai News Network

Green Light To Mizoram Rail Project

Aizawl, Jun 3 : A major project envisaging extension of the railway network in Mizoram is all set to begin in right earnest.

The extension will be made from the state’s only railhead at Bairabi to Sairang, 51km and 20km from Aizawl respectively, by a 51.3km broad gauge line.

The project found itself in murky waters as the issue of payment of compensation to landowners and the forest department proved to be quite intractable for the past four years.

However, in the past one year, a task force, headed by retired Indian Postal Service officer Zasanga and set up for accelerating the pace of settling the compensation demands of individual land owners, was able to solve the problems in phases.

The cost for the project has ballooned from Rs 519.34 crore 10 years ago to Rs 2,384.34 crore at present.

Official sources in Aizawl today said the compensation formalities in five clusters of villages straddling the railway project had ended last week with the last of the landowners, who had parted with their properties in Mualkhang sector, accepting the cheques.

Earlier, compensations were distributed to land owners in Kawnpui, Hortoki, Bhairabi and Khamrang villages.

According to the state revenue and forest departments, 74,488 hectares of forest land and 356 hectares of private land had been acquired till last week.

The ambitious railway infrastructure project may start at the end of the monsoon. Mizoram is still considered to lack the basic communication infrastructure, making this tiny state quite inaccessible.

Zasanga today said the Bhairabi-Sairang section will have 23 tunnels, 154 long rail bridges and 46 short bridges.

The deadline for completion of construction is 2020.

Zasanga said 75 per cent of the project would be funded by the PMO and 25 per cent by the railways.

Arunachal panel

The Arunachal Pradesh government has constituted a high-level committee to look into the affairs of the railways in the state.

The committee will be headed by the political secretary, with the inspector-general of police (law and order), deputy commissioners of Itanagar and Yupia district and railway authorities as its members, chief secretary Ramesh Negi said in a statement issued in Itanagar today.