Robust regional connectivity to boost India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor
regional connectivity
through
robust rail infrastructure
is essential to minimizing logistics expenses, boosting trade, and advancing collective prosperity throughout Asia including strengthening ambitious
IMEC
, according to experts at a recent panel discussion.
#Pahalgam Terrorist Attack
Pakistan reopens Attari-Wagah border to allow stranded citizens in India to return
Key Jammu & Kashmir reservoirs' flushing to begin soon
Air India sees Pakistan airspace ban costing it $600 mn over 12 months
The panel discussion organised by Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) highlighted the importance of rail connectivity in strengthening
Asian economic integration
.
The event brought together eminent leaders from the Railway Board — including former CEO Jaya Varma Sinha, M. Jamshed (Member Traffic), and R.N. Sunkar (Member Infrastructure) — along with senior representatives from key PSUs -- Vijoy Kumar Singh (
CONCOR
) and Manoj Shrivastav (PRCL), renowned academic Professor C. Raja Mohan, and private sector representative Prasanna Karthik (APSEZ). Together, they offered a wide range of insights into the critical role of railways in driving India's economic growth and strengthening regional integration across Asia.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today
elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill
Learn More
Shishir Priyadarshi, President, CRF underlined that robust railway infrastructure is vital for India's growth story and deeper economic integration within Asia. Echoing this, Jamshed pointed out, 'Traffic infrastructure is more important than tariff infrastructure,' re-emphasising the importance of railways for sustainable connectivity.
Highlighting the role of connectivity in driving economic growth, Prof Rajamohan emphasised, 'There is a need for greater private sector participation in infrastructure development, especially in the railways, to bring in market-driven efficiency and mobilise additional resources.'
Live Events
Prof Rajamohan further reemphasized that India's 'Greater Vision' for 2047 needs to be more connected. Drawing from the colonial era, he highlighted that railway building is closely linked to nation-building and cited examples from the United States, China, and the USSR to demonstrate how railways played pivotal roles in regional influence.
The discussion also touched upon the importance of the Trans-Asian Railway Network and the role of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC). The necessity of overcoming political barriers was highlighted by Jaya Verma Sinha, who stated, 'The South Asian region is known as the least connected because of artificially created barriers, so we need to defeat political barriers, especially in connecting with Bangladesh.'
Sunkar said, 'There is a misunderstanding that railways are not expanding,' and highlighted ongoing improvements such as tunnelling, land processing, and increased cooperation with state governments.
Bijoy Kumar Singh and P. R. Parhi emphasized the importance of integrating railways with business ecosystems. Singh stated, 'India needs a proper ecosystem to do business, marketing, and finance,' while Parhi noted that 'under GOI, private companies are extending support to countries like Bangladesh.' He also cited a World Bank study from 2022, predicting that by 2040-45, the number of vehicles on roads will increase to unsustainable levels, stressing the need for soft and road linkages.
The discussion also focused on connectivity with West Asia and Southeast Asia. Highlighting IMEC's role, Col. Rajeev Agarwal said, 'IMEC represents a major step in connecting India with the Middle East and Europe. While the virtual trade corridor' deal with the UAE is advancing port readiness, seamless physical connectivity remains a challenge due to the lack of uniform rail gauges and infrastructure standardization.' He further added, 'IMEC is the first India-centric project which has multilateral leadership, unlike China's BRI.'
Manoj S. traced historical precedents, stating, 'The way Chandragupta Maurya made the Chittagong to Khorasan route, and in 120 AD, Kanishka shaped the Old Silk Road, shows the importance of connectivity since ancient times.' He also highlighted the technological gaps and mismatches in rail bogies, stressing the need for harmonization and cross-border training for loco pilots.
Karthik emphasized, 'IMEC cuts through one of the most volatile regions of the world; to bring down time and cost, it is imperative.' He remarked, 'Since customs and procedures need to be met, that can only be done by government authorization. Infrastructure building is in the private sector; therefore, robust rail connectivity in South Asia and IMEC will need a public-private partnership.'
Jamshed concluded, 'Government needs to join hands with the private investors for railway infrastructure development. Myanmar is key to India's Southeast Asia connectivity and the materialization of the Act East Policy in the SEA region. On the other side, for IMEC to succeed, railway lines must be modernized before it takes off.'
Panellists highlighted the imperative of institutional support, private sector involvement, and international cooperation in achieving this objective. The CRF Railway Conclave represents a pivotal forum for shaping the discourse on Asia's railway future and charting a course toward equitable and sustainable development.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
25 minutes ago
- India Today
Has face-off with poll panel revived INDIA bloc? Big debate on News Today
The top talking point of this episode of News Today is the escalating standoff between the opposition's INDIA bloc and the Election Commission over the special intensive revision of voter lists in Bihar. Stepping up the attack, opposition MPs on Monday took out a protest march from Parliament House to the Election Commission office against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged "vote chori", but were briefly detained amid high drama. The march saw MPs from several opposition parties coming together for the protest. So, has the face-off with the poll panel revived the INDIA bloc? Why is the government shying away from a debate on SIR? Watch as experts debate these and more on News Today.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
UK deal to boost scotch sales: Maker of Glenfiddich, Balvenie
NEW DELHI: William Grant & Sons, the maker of top Scottish whisky brands, such as Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, and Balvenie, apart from Hendrick's Gin, has called the India-UK trade deal a "landmark" agreement. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This deal will lead to the entry of new higher-end editions in the country, apart from giving a fillip to the sale of premium spirits brands. Sachin Mehta, country director (India & subcontinent) for William Grant & Sons, said the company is witnessing strong sales in India, and this is going to further strengthen as it introduces limited editions and newer variations. "I think it's a landmark achievement for both the countries and for our industry especially," Mehta told TOI, when commenting on the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) that was signed in late July. The agreement will see India reduce the import duty on scotch from 150% to 75%, and thereafter to 40% over the next decade. "I think it's a very, very progressive move." Mehta said it is too early to talk about consumer price reductions, especially as the deal is yet to come into play - the British Parliament has to ratify it - and the impact of state taxes in India has to be factored in. "I think that it will ultimately benefit the consumers over here. But time will tell in terms of what the real shape will be. The first phase is likely to come into effect in about four or five months. There's still the fine print. But ultimately it's the 10 years that we're talking about when it goes down to the landing rate and that'll be a great one." He said the relaxation encourages the company to further strengthen expansion plans. "When you have ease of doing business, it really builds the confidence. And, all of that will translate into getting better products."
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who is May Mailman, the Harvard-educated lawyer at the center of Trump's campaign against America's top universities?
May Mailman's role in challenging elite US universities during Trump's term. (Photo courtesy: Facebook) May Mailman, a Harvard-trained lawyer, has been the key figure behind President Trump's aggressive campaign targeting America's top universities, according to reporting by The New York Times. Through executive orders, the strategic use of federal funding, and civil rights investigations, Mailman helped design a broad approach aimed at pressuring elite institutions to alter their policies on admissions, diversity, and gender. Although Mailman departed the White House in August 2025, as reported by CBS News, she continues to serve as a special government employee, overseeing ongoing negotiations with universities such as Harvard, according to The New York Times. Driving policy to reshape higher education Mailman was instrumental in drafting executive orders early in Trump's second term that redefined the federal government's stance on sex, limiting recognition to only two genders and rolling back policies that promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion, as reported by The New York Times. These changes forced universities like the University of Pennsylvania to ban transgender girls and women from participating in women's sports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Find These Bugs in Bauru, Do Something Immediately Undo The New York Times further notes that Mailman was 'credited as an animating force behind a strategy that has intimidated independent institutions and undercut years of medical and scientific research.' She helped lead an effort to challenge what the administration viewed as liberal bias in admissions practices, particularly focusing on the role of race in college admissions. Using federal funding and civil rights investigations as leverage According to The New York Times, a key element of Mailman's strategy involved leveraging federal funding to pressure universities. Institutions faced the risk of losing significant research grants or student visa approvals if they did not align with the administration's demands. In addition, the administration opened civil rights investigations into admissions policies at several leading universities. The Times reports that Mailman personally closed a $221 million settlement with Columbia University—the largest settlement the administration has secured to date—after such investigations. Negotiations with elite universities While many universities chose to quietly comply, Harvard has been a rare holdout, willing to fight back in court, The New York Times reports. Mailman led the White House's negotiations with Harvard, which included contentious issues such as how race factored into admissions and disputes over patent investigations. The Times quotes Harvard officials describing these investigations as 'yet another retaliatory effort targeting Harvard for defending its rights and freedom. ' Talks with Harvard appeared to be progressing, with the university signalling openness to spending $500 million to reach a resolution, though new investigations and pressures continued, as noted by The New York Times. Impact on academic freedom and campus culture The New York Times highlights concerns from faculty and student groups that the administration's approach threatens academic freedom and free speech on campuses. Mailman's policies, which have included attempts to dictate hiring practices, admissions, and curriculum content, have been described by some as trampling on First Amendment rights. Adam Goldstein, vice president of strategic initiatives at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, was quoted by The New York Times saying, 'If you normalize the use of federal power like this, then academic freedom is just a memory and universities become political footballs and no longer useful instruments in the search for truth.' Mailman's pragmatism amid controversy Despite her aggressive tactics, The New York Times reports that Mailman is respected within government circles for her efficiency and ability to balance competing interests. University officials who have negotiated with her privately have praised her pragmatic approach, noting her skill in navigating complex discussions between the administration and academic institutions. Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff, praised Mailman as 'one of the most indispensable, gifted and dedicated staffers and lawyers in the Trump administration since Day 1,' according to The New York Times. Continuing influence after White House departure Though Mailman officially left her White House post in August 2025, The New York Times reports that she remains involved as a special government employee to 'tie up loose ends' on policy matters. CBS News also reported that Mailman plans to start a government affairs firm but will not represent clients related to her administration projects, including ongoing negotiations with Harvard. Mailman herself said, as quoted by The New York Times, 'We don't want to run these universities. We want some sweeping changes that set things in the right trajectory.' TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
