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Mamuni Das

Russia, Iran plan on building new railway track & operate it

New Delhi March 21 The Russian Railways has initiated talks with the Indian Railways to take a lead in forming a consortium (an operating company) that would offer container transportation service between Russia, Iran and India through a rail-cum-sea link.

The link being discussed envisages sea connectivity between Iranian port of Bender Abbas and Mumbai, or other Western ports of India — thus, bypassing Pakistan. Between Russia and Iran, the connectivity could be through rail (via Azerbaijan) or rail-cum-sea.

The talks assume significance in the backdrop of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Russian Railways with the Iranian Railways to set up a railway track building and operations company.

Russia has entered into an agreement with Iran to build a new railway line between Qazvin-Rasht-Astara (which is one of the key links in the North-South International Transport Corridor) and set up an international consortium to build and jointly operate the line.

The line will take land traffic along the West Coast of the Caspian Sea and provide outlets to the railways of Azerbaijan and Russia, according to the Russian Railways.

Moreover, the Russian Railways has already built a ferry service across the Caspian Sea to Iran. In 2005, the Russian part of the corridor carried 9.1 million tonnes of freight by rail.

Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of International Union of Railways conference, the Russian Railways President, Mr Vladimir Yakunin, said, "We have suggested that an operator be formed led by India, Russia and Iran. We are in talks with the Indian Government officials on the issue."

When asked about specific details on the nature of the proposed company, Mr Vladimir said, "These are initial talks. It would be very early to comment on the issue."

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