Railways, Defence plan strategic infrastructure along border

Indian Railways has decided to provide strategic infrastructure along the border in collaboration with the Defence Ministry against the backdrop of China's plans to build a rail link between Tibet and Nepal.
Dispelling notions that the plans were "against any country", Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu today said infrastructure will be provided wherever required.
"Defence Ministry and Railways are working out joint plans to cater to the strategic requirement in infrastructure. The details are being worked out by both the ministries," he said, responding to questions about about China's plans to build a 540-kilometre strategic high-speed rail link between Tibet and Nepal which would pass through a tunnel under Mt Everest.

"The whole idea is not against any country, but the idea is to create infrastructure for our Defence forces wherever they will decide. Railways' job is that if the country needs something for our strategic requirement then we will defintely do it," he said.
Asked about threat perceptions and Railways' focus on the border, Prabhu said it is not his ministry's job. "This is tackled by competent authorities including Defence Ministry, Prime Minister and others and they will decide on the strategic issues."
He also said that India is a country which "cannot attack first. We are not attackers. But we have to defend ourselves. We are not focusing on any country but some countries have focus on us."

The Minister, however, said cooperation with China in rail sector will continue.