|
The Member Planning Commission Shri Anwarul Hoda has said that the vision of Trans-Asian Rail Links should become a reality. Inaugurating a two-day first meeting of Chief Executive Officers of Railways of BIMST-EC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries here today, Shri Hoda called for strengthening regional cooperation among member nations of BIMSTEC, Bangaldesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal, for pooling their resources for harmonizing different rail technologies, development plan of their national railway networks, development of multi-modal and inter-modal services and training facilities to achieve the ultimate vision of Trans-Asian Rail Links spanning over South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and Europe under the aegis of the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP).
Shri Hoda talked at length of the emerging globalization of the World Economy wherein the role of the Governments was changing as enabler and facilitator. This warranted a competitive environment. The Railways of the BIMSTEC countries should take advantage of the worldwide revival of railways as energy efficient, eco-friendly and cost-effective bulk transportation system to integrate themselves for social and economic prosperity of the people.
Earlier, the Chairman Railway Board Shri R.K. Singh, who is leading Indian Delegation in the BIMSTEC conference, in his welcome address gave an overview of Indian Railways stating that it was carrying 14 million passengers and 16 million freight traffic with 8500 passenger trains and 5500 freight trains daily. It was a massive organization with the largest manpower under single management in the world, he concluded. He offered full cooperation for integration of railways of the member countries to achieve the vision for Trans-Asian Rail Links.
The BIMSTEC meeting is hosted jointly by the Ministry of Railways and Asian Institute of Transport.
|
