Russia has proposed exploring a direct rail corridor connecting the country with India via the Indian Ocean.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has suggested that Moscow and New Delhi examine the feasibility of a rail connection that could provide an alternative to vulnerable maritime trade routes. He said possible routes could pass through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that any route offering connectivity to India would be considered viable. The Editorial Team of Behind The Headlines reports that the proposal comes as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and the Bosphorus have highlighted the risks of depending heavily on major maritime chokepoints.
The proposal is significant because India and Russia already participate in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal network combining rail, road and sea routes through Iran and other countries. The new Russian suggestion appears to go further by exploring a more continuous overland rail connection to India. However, several questions remain, including the exact route, infrastructure requirements, financing, security and the involvement of countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan. The project is therefore at the proposal and feasibility stage, rather than being an approved railway project.
For India, a reliable land-based connection with Russia could potentially create another trade route for goods, reduce dependence on vulnerable sea lanes and strengthen connectivity with Central Asia and Eurasia. For Moscow, it could diversify export and import routes at a time when geopolitical tensions are disrupting traditional shipping corridors. Khusnullin's comments also come as Russia seeks greater investment in transport and infrastructure. Whether the ambitious rail idea can move beyond a proposal will depend on the economics, political cooperation and technical feasibility of building a corridor across a complex region.