India, China Sign MOU & Action Plan to Enhance Cooperation in Railway Sector

New Delhi: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an Action Plan were signed between the Government of India and People's Republic of China in enhancing Technical Cooperation in Railway Sector, at delegation level talks between the two countries here today. The MoU was signed in the presence of the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and the visiting President of China, Xi Jinping. The Minister of Railways, Government of India, Shri D.V.Sadananda Gowda was especially present on the occasion. The signatories to the agreements were Chairman, Railway Board, Government of India, Shri Arunendra Kumar and Vice Minister & Administrator of National Railway Administration (NRA), China, Mr. Lu Dengfu.

The potential cooperation areas mentioned in the MoU are; i) Training in heavy haul freight transportation, ii) Raising of speed of trains on existing routes, iii) Station redevelopment, iv) High speed rail and v) Setting up of Railway University.

Following specific areas have been mentioned in Action Plan:

• Training in heavy haul transportation:
  A training programme has been finalised for 100 persons (20 persons per batch for total 5 batches) in the field of heavy haul transportation.
• Speed raising on Existing Lines:
  Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore section has been identified for speed raising to 160 kmph with the cooperation of China.
• Redevelopment of Railway Stations:
  Chinese side will conduct pre-feasibility of two stations with their financing and prepare a report indicating further course of cooperation.
• Cooperation in High Speed rail:
  Chinese side will conduct project feasibility study and prepare a detailed project report with their financing of a section to be advised by Indian Railways.
• Setting up of Railway University:
  Chinese experience of Rail Universities will be used for developing a Railway University in India.

The MoU takes effect on the date of its signature by both parties and will remain in force for three years.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.