Bullet train connecting Kunming to Kolkata through Barak! Could be a reality soon

Not long back, people of Barak Valley was pleading, revolting, fighting for a metre gauge to broad gauge shift and now all of a sudden it looks like the valley might soon see bullet trains on the tracks. China’s counsel general in Kolkata, Ma Zhanwu says China is “looking forward” towards a bullet train connecting Kunming to Kolkata.

“We are looking forward to bullet trains from Kolkata to Kunming. The whole of Asia will be connected,” said Zhanwu while addressing a conference on connectivity and trade relations between China and India.

“It will only take a few hours to reach Kolkata from Kunming if the rail link becomes a reality,” he was quoted telling Hindustan Times.

Three years back, a plan was proposed – Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor. The bullet train would start from Kunming in Western China and then march towards Mandalay in Myanmar through Xinjiang and Dehong. From there the bullet train would take a turn towards Manipur-Myanmar border and reach Silchar through Imphal. From Silchar the train would pass through Karimganj and reach Dhaka and then the final destination – Kolkata.

The general counsel believes that if the project is sanctioned and completed, the 2800 kilometer distance between Kolkata and Kunming can be covered in a few hours. He was of the opinion that this bullet train service can boost trade relationships between several Asian countries.

It is worth mentioning here that this proposal was first tabled in 2015. At that time Kolkata Kunming route had Silchar at its center too. But it was unclear if the train would reach Dhaka through Karimganj – Mahishan – Kalaura – Akhaura or Karimganj – Dharmanagar – Agartala – Akhaura. The general counsel did not shed any light on this during his speech.

So, a bullet train in Barak? Looks like a dream today but if both China and India see this dream with open eyes then this could come true too.