Big move by Modi govt as it halts Rs 5000 crore railway connectivity projects in Bangladesh due to..., explores alternate routes in...
The Narendra Modi government has suspended key rail projects in Bangladesh. (File)
India-Bangladesh relations: Amid the rapid decline in India-Bangladesh relations since the fall of Sheikh Hasina in August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has reportedly halted the construction and funding several railway connectivity projects in Bangladesh worth around Rs 5,000 crore. India suspends rail projects in Bangladesh
According to a report by The Hindu BusinessLine, the Indian government has cited concerns over the ongoing 'political turmoil' and 'safety of labour' in Bangladesh as the major reasons for cutting off funding for the rail projects that were part of an initiative to enhance connectivity between mainland India and the country's seven northeastern states via the neighbouring country.
But construction work on the projects has now been suspended and funding stopped, due to the current unrest and security uncertainties in Bangladesh, the report said, adding that India is now exploring alternative transit routes via other neighbouring countries, such as Bhutan and Nepal.
As per the report, three rail projects– the Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link, the Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line, and the Dhaka-Tongi-Joydebpur rail expansion– have been suspended, while surveys for five other proposed rail routes have been put on hold. Indian Railways focusing on expanding existing infra
The Indian Railways is now focusing to expand rail infrastructure within the country, especially the through the strategic Siliguri Corridor, aka the 'Chicken's Neck' corridor in West Bengal. Accelerated efforts are underway to efforts to double or quadruple existing rail lines in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, key regions that connect to the Siliguri Corridor, a senior railway official was quoted as saying.
The official said that survey work for these expansions is already underway, and the railways is also exploring new rail corridors through Nepal and Bhutan, leveraging existing agreements such as the India-Nepal rail pact and Bhutan's geographical proximity to India's northeast. India-Bangladesh relations
India-Bangladesh relations have hit an all-time low after the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, coming to the helm in Dhaka.
Widespread communal violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, which has soured Dhaka's ties with New Delhi, with the latter accusing the Yunus-led interim government of not doing enough, and turning a blind eye to the atrocities perpetrated by radical Islamist elements against the minority Hindu community in the country.
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