New Delhi, Aug 10: Russia is exploring a railway route linking the country with the Indian Ocean and India through Central and South Asia, seeking to develop alternative transport corridors amid growing risks to key maritime routes.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said alternative land routes could help reduce dependence on strategically important waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bosphorus Strait.
Pic Credit: Pexel
According to Russia's state news agency, Khusnullin said railway routes passing through Turkmenistan, Iran and Afghanistan could be explored to provide access to India and the Indian Ocean.
The proposal comes amid continuing instability in West Asia and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy and commercial trade.
A railway corridor through Central and South Asia could provide Russia with an alternative overland connection towards the Indian Ocean and India, potentially strengthening trade and transport links between the countries along the proposed route.
The initiative could also have wider economic and strategic significance for India by creating additional options for the movement of goods between India and Russia and reducing reliance on vulnerable maritime routes.
Improved rail connectivity could facilitate trade in goods and strengthen logistics links between Russia, Central Asia, Iran and India, while contributing to broader regional efforts to diversify trade corridors and supply chains.
However, developing such a corridor would require substantial investment in railway infrastructure, cross-border coordination and logistical facilities. Security conditions along the proposed route, particularly in Afghanistan, would also be an important consideration.
The proposal remains at an exploratory stage, with its feasibility likely to depend on discussions among the countries involved, infrastructure requirements, financing and security considerations.
The move comes as regional countries increasingly seek alternative land and multimodal transport corridors to improve supply-chain resilience and reduce exposure to disruptions along major international shipping routes.
If developed, the proposed railway link could strengthen Russia's overland access to the Indian Ocean and create an additional connectivity route between Russia and India through Central and South Asia.