Russia India Railway Corridor- The first Idea

The coming of railways marked the transformation of the world. Thus when transport became essential for becoming a frontrunner in the world of trade and commerce, countries began looking for ways to reduce freight cost and duration. This competitiveness steered some of the greatest empires to formulate ideas that have come to fruition in the contemporary world. The idea of a railway corridor that was birthed in 1911 only saw the day of light in the 2000s.

The British brought railways to India to facilitate the transportation of goods. Image source: The Economic Times

Note: For someone unaware of Russian history and wary of current events, this story might seem out of place. But if anything, this story is a testament to the changing nature of politics and society in Russia over the years, as seen from Indian eyes.

Most of us would know that the Indian subcontinent was abundant in materials that were in much demand in Europe. While the British, French, Dutch, and Portuguese enjoyed access to these resources, other states continuously wondered of ways to establish trade relations with India.

The Russian Empire was one of the few that wanted to trade with India. Travelling to India was a tedious journey, and the path wasn't exactly a bed of roses. It took days to travel to the commercial cities of India, and the fare was too high.

Therefore, the most feasible plan that appealed to the Russian officials was the construction of a railway route with British India. However, the idea was rejected. The British Government wanted the colony to be distant from Russia. Moreover, other European nations could use the route for military invasions.

In 1911, some of the wealthiest businessmen in Russia proposed to invest 207 million roubles for the construction of railways from Russia to India. The architects of this project predicted that the transportation cost and time would be reduced drastically. In addition, the revenue generated from passenger traffic would only add to Russia's coffers.

Those who put forth the idea were so confident that they were willing to undertake all costs and only asked the state for political support in obtaining foreign permits.

Almost everyone was ready to give the project a green signal barring the Ministry of Finance. The office declared that the calculations were overly optimistic and maintenance costs would be much higher than anticipated. Further, the Ministry of Industry and Trade warned that Russia could lose control over the Persian markets as soon as European goods could be transported through the trains.

Seeing the threat it posed to Russian traders, the deliberations regarding the plan were put on hold. Once the first world war began, the project lost its relevance, and finally, it was put to an end once Russia evolved further.

In recent years there have been talks between the two countries to build a railway corridor. India is a part of the NSTC (North-South Transport Corridor) that aims to reduce transportation costs and time across regions.

The Russian Railway company RZD Logistics and CONCOR Container Corporation of India have been exploring their joint logistics projects on the corridor. In lieu of the Suez Canal blockage last year, the INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) has become a more popular alternative of transportation.

The INSTC Map shows India-Russia connectivity through multiple routes. Image source: Russia Briefing