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China delays city-Bangaluru rail link
An ambitious high speed train project in south India has been delayed after Chinese railways, that completed a feasibility study a year ago, did not respond, Railway officials have said, suggesting that “lack of response” may be due to the Doka La standoff.
By
migrator
migrator
New Delhi
An internal brief of the Mobility Directorate on the status of nine high-speed projects of the railways, accessed by PTI, shows that the Chennai-Bangaluru-Mysore corridor, a 492 km stretch, lies in limbo because the Chinese railways has failed to respond to the ministry’s communiques.
“The Chinese company submitted the final report in November 2016 and after that the Chinese team has suggested for a face to face interaction. No date has been fixed from their side,” said the note prepared by the Mobility Directorate. On the reason for the delay, the brief states -- “lack of response” from Chinese railways.
The brief also states that the feasibility study by the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEC) was submitted to the Railway Board in November 2016 and after that the Chinese company had sought meetings with officials of the Board.
However, officials say that the Board has been unable to get in touch with officials of CREEC despite repeated communications sent to them via mails in the last six months. “We have even tried to get in touch with them through their Embassy here, but we are yet to hear from them,” said an official.
The ministry officials said that it was the standoff between the two countries in Bhutan’s Doka La area between June 16 and August 28 this year that seems to have derailed the project.
“The study began in 2014 and they submitted the report in 2016. The entire cost was borne by them. In fact they have shown so much interest in collaborating with us for other projects as well, so we think that it was the standoff that must have raised doubts,” said a senior rail official. An email to the Chinese Embassy on the issue did not elicit any response.
NOT ON TRACK
- Sources say the ChennaiBangaluru-Mysore corridor, a 492 km stretch, lies in limbo because the Chinese railways has failed to respond to the ministry’s communiques.
- Officials also say that the Doka La standoff between June 16 and August 28 this year seems to have derailed the project.
- However, except the Chinese roadblock, work on eight other projects is on track.
- The ChennaiBangaluru-Mysore corridor is one of nine high speed corridors being developed by the ministry.
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