Prabhu refuses divulge details of rail line along India-China border

Days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar revealed India's plan to set up a rail station along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Monday admitted to the plan but refused to give details.

"When the defence ministry said something, there is no need to comment on that. We'll elaborate it to the media on appropriate time," Prabhu said.

On Saturday, Parrikar said Indian Railways will soon set up a station in Arunachal Pradesh near the India-China border.

The move to set up a railway station along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh assumes significance due to the fact that China often claims a portion of the northeastern state as its territory and often reacts sharply whenever top Indian leaders visits the state.

China has recently unveiled its plan to build a tunnel under the 8,848-metre high Mt Everest, the world's highest peak, to extend its railway network in Nepal.

The railway minister, who was here on Monday to participate in the 60th Railway Week and National Awards Function ceremony 2015, however, appreciated the pace of development in China.

He said the railway had played a great role in development of China and its economy.

"The next five years is very crucial for the Indian Railways. We are going to link all the state capitals of the northeast region with rail lines by next five year's time," Prabhu said.