Regional Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Transport Connectivity in Southern and Central Asia.

7-8 Feb 2018 Bangkok, Thailand

Ministry of Railways Government of TAR Routes

• UN ESCAP study identified three broader routes: • Northern corridor: passing through China, Kazakhstan, Mangolia, Russian federation and Korean peninsula; • TAR on Indo- China: starting from Chinese border to Laos, Thailand, Malaysia; • Southern corridor: connecting Turkey through Iran, Pakistan, India, , Myanmar and with Sri Lanka also part of the corridor, South Asia -An Overview • In South Asian Region, inadequate infrastructure increases costs of logistics and hampering trade promotion & regional integration • Missing links and lack of uniform technical standards are main challenges . • TAR – a major UN-ESCAP initiative to strengthen rail connectivity between Asia and Europe. Southern corridor extends through South Asian Region. • For integration with South West Asia the main constraint is inter-operability of gauge and with South East Asia, mainly the missing links. Connectivity with neighbouring countriesTAR Network in India

Tamu

Mahisasan

Gede

TAR main link TAR other routes Missing Links Break of Gauge Existing Cross Border Railway links of India

• With Pakistan via Atari-Wagha and via Munabao-Khokharapar

• With Nepal via -Birganj

• With Bangladesh via Gede-Darsana, - Rohanpur, - and - Birol New Connectivity Projects

• For connectivity with Bangladesh ➢ - Akhaura New Line (Trans Asian Railways missing link segment) is undertaken. ➢ Restoration of rail link between Haldibari- Chilhatti • For connectivity with Nepal two projects have been sanctioned: ➢ Jogbani-Biratnagar link ➢ Jayanagar-Bijalpura Gauge Conversion with extension to Bardibas • For Connectivity with Myanmar ➢ Jiribam-Imphal new link is under construction and a Survey has also been undertaken for linking Imphal – Moreh - This link will connect Indian Railways with Myanmar Railways in future. India – Bangladesh Existing Rail Links and New links under implementation

Haldibari -Chilhatti

Radhikapur-Birol

Singhabad- Rohanpur

Agartala- Akhaura Gede - Darsana

Benapole - Petrapol Train Operation - India - Pakistan

• Bilateral Agreements exist for interchange of traffic at border stations; - Wagah (Pakistan) – Attari (India) and - Kokrabar (Pakistan) – Munabao (India) • No break of Gauge issues as both countries have Broad Gauge (1.676 m) • Customs, Immigration and health checks shall be conducted by the border stations of the respective countries • Standard Wagons’ shall be used for inter-country traffic • Freight/Fare collected for the movement from/to border points of the respective country Freight Operation India - Bangladesh

• Fundamental and Subsidiary Rules for interchange of Railway Traffic and Working Agreements govern Train operations between India and Bangladesh • Broad Gauge links at four locations for interchange of traffic viz. 1. Gede-Darshana 2. Singhabad-Rohanpur , 3. Petrapole-Benapole and 4. Radhikapur-Birol • Rolling stock in good condition (covered wagons) shall be provided by IR and BR • Joint Train Examination in both directions will take place at a single point • Customs clearance will be arranged by IR and BR at their respective territory Passenger Train service India - Bangladesh

• Working of trains governed by the Fundamental and subsidiary Rules • Both IR and BR contribute equally towards the rolling stock – Locomotives provided by IR and BR on their respective territory • Each Railway provide for primary maintenance of its rake. • The crews and guards of IR and BR will man the trains over their respective territory • Customs and Immigration clearance shall be arranged by IR and BR on their respective border stations Status of India–Bandladesh Rail connectivity Projects –

Akhaura – Agartala Railway Link • Length: 15.064 km (Indian 5 km, Bangladesh -10 km) • Approximate cost of the project 151 million USD • Detailed Engineering Report prepared by IRCON has been accepted by the Bangladesh Railways and Indian Railways Extant practice of Train Operations India - Nepal • Bilateral agreement governs the train operation between India and Nepal for carrying third country transit traffic and bilateral traffic on the Broad Gauge link between Raxaul (India) and Birganj (Nepal) is operational • Indian Railways provide rolling stock • Single waybill for the carriage of goods • Train operation done by IR crew • Presently Containers of ISO specifications loaded on flat wagons are interchanged • Basic maintenance of wagons at Birganj • Collection of freight by respective agencies over their respective territory • Customs facilitation at Raxaul and the Gateway ports Status of India–Nepal Rail connectivity Projects –

Jayanagar (India) to Bardibas(Nepal) New line Project: • Length - 68.79 km (2.99 km in India and 65 .72 km in Nepal) - Gauge conversion from NG rail to BG (51.735 Km) and Construction of a new BG line (16.9 Km) • Formation and Bridge work in progress in available land. • Target date 3 years on receipt of encumbrance free land Jogbani (India) to Biratnagar (Nepal) New Line Project • Length -18.6 km (5.45 km in India and 13.15 km in Nepal) • Formation and Bridge work in progress in available land • Target date 2 years on receipt of encumbrance free land India Nepal New Lines Surveyed S.No. From To Distance ( in Kms.) 1 Jogbani (India) Biratnagar (Birat nagar) 18 2 Jayanagar (India) Bijalpura (Nepal ) & extn. to 69 Bardibas 3 Nepalganj Road (India) Nepalganj (Nepal) 12 4 Nautanwa (India) Bhairahawa (Nepal) 15 5 New Jalpaiguri Kakarbhita via Panittanki 46 (India) ( Nepal) 6 Khushinagar (India) Kapilavastu (Nepal) Survey in progress 7 Barhni (India) Kathmandu (Nepal) Survey in progress

Projects mentioned in S.No. (1) and (2) are under implementation India–Myanmar Rail connectivity Projects –

• The missing rail link between India and Myanmar is from Jiribam - Moreh (Indian portion) - Tamu – Kaley (Myanmar portion) • New line project between Jiribam and Imphal (110 Kms. ) is being undertaken by IR. • For the balance portion of the missing link on the Indian side between Imphal and Moreh (111 kms), a Survey has also been Undertaken by IR . • A Detailed Project Report is being considered for the construction of missing link between Moreh – Tamu- Kalay in the Myanmar side Sub-regional connectivity – existing and new Rail Links

Moreh

Sabroom

New Line under construction Indo-Myanmar Missing Link

MOREH TAMU

KALAY Key challenges in Cross Border Railway Transport

• Complex border-crossing procedures and lack of harmonization in the documents required for different countries • Different technical standards for rolling stock, power. • Inspections on both sides of border crossings causing delays • Different operating rules and tariff structures • Different requirements for train drivers and crew • Incompatible cross border information and data transmission systems. Development of ICPs (Integrated Check Posts)

• ICPs are major Infrastructural facilities provided on land borders to improve the trade and passenger movement and also enhancing security • The existing infrastructure for discharge of various sovereign functions at these points is neither adequate nor integrated • ICPs would function as a single unit and provide coordination among various government agencies • ICPs provide facilities for customs, immigration, border guarding forces, plant and animal quarantine, warehousing, banking, etc. Development of ICPs (Integrated Check Posts)

• The operational ICPs have resulted in increase in trade, hassle-free movement of cargo and passenger • Government of India has prioritized implementation of ICPs at certain locations depending on trade volume, passenger traffic, land availability • List of ICPs planned: • Phase-I (7 locations): - Attari, Agartala, Petrapole, Raxaul, Jogbani, Moreh and • Phase-II (13 locations) - Jaigaon, Sunauli, Rupaidiha, Panitanki, Hili,, Sutarkandi, , Fulbari, , Bhithamore, Banbasa and Kawrpuichchah Other possible measures for improvement

• Expanding the railway infrastructure including warehousing and handling yard • Expanding Bank and forex facilities • Integrated check posts as a single window facility . • Adopting fast track cargo clearance system • Simplified Agreement and standard legal regimes Regional Rail Agreement

• Proposes to integrate the region by overcoming the physical and non-physical barriers which include : ➢ Development of missing links/new links ➢ A basic standard of technical characteristics common to all the SAARC countries. ➢ Standardization of documentation and customs procedure ➢ Maintenance and Operating Arrangements ➢ Safety & Security of Trains while in Transit ➢ Aim of having common Railway Receipt/ Passenger Ticket . ➢ Visa facilities – Multiple entry visa valid for one year for Railway personnel on duty Objectives of the Regional Rail Agreement (RRA)

1. To facilitate cross border transportation ; 2. To facilitate an efficient multimodal transport system ; 3. To strengthen connectivity and seamless passage ; 4. To establish an effective, efficient, integrated and harmonized rail transportation system in the region; 5. To further the economic integration in the region; 6. To implement relevant provisions of the Agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA); Thanks