A rail link to the world

A rail corridor has been mooted between Chennai and Colombo as part of a SAARC initiative to increase connectivity between member countries.

The project, if realised, would be the first ever travel link from any country to Sri Lanka’s capital city. Such a direct physical link between the two countries and the commencement of the proposed Colombo-Cochin ferry service will be a major boon to the economies of both countries.

This direct physical connection to the Asian mainland will virtually end Sri Lanka’s island status, in the same way that the Channel Tunnel integrated the UK with the European mainland.

Given that Sri Lanka has signed a pact for an Asia-wide rail network, the Government should provide every encouragement to this project.

It will be another bridge building exercise with our giant neighbour to follow in the numerous other bridge building efforts over the years. A rail link will be an enormously expensive project and both countries need to work closely on the funding mechanisms.

While reinforcing friendly neighbourly relations the move could also be a stepping stone for improved relations between Sri Lankans and their Tamil Nadu counterparts, which had been somewhat strained over the decades due to the ethnic conflict.

It would provide an opportunity for the visitors to get a better insight and understanding of the Sri Lankan situation vis-à-vis the ethnic conflict. In the long run it could help dispel the suspicions entertained by some segments across the Palk Strait about the ethnic question.

Apart from the economic benefits, one can only imagine the socio-cultural revolution spurred by a Lanka-India rail link. However, for the link to be truly effective, both countries should ease visa regulations.

This facility could be made use of by a large number of our Buddhist pilgrims to visit the birthplace of the Enlightened One since the train journey would offer cheaper passage over air travel.

Lankan film fans may just ‘catch the train’ to watch the latest Bollywood or Hollywood blockbuster in Chennai. We can also expect a deluge of Indian cricket fans during tours here by the Indian team.

Casual visitors and shoppers in both countries will also benefit. The train will help exporters in both countries to ‘ship’ goods at lower freight rates, translating into cheaper goods for consumers.

The escalation of the conflict saw an end to the earlier Talaimannar ferry service and now the only travel mode is by air.

The entry of low-cost airlines such as Mihin Lanka has made air travel to India more affordable, but more flights between the two countries are needed.

If and when the train project gets on track, the Government needs to be circumspect and exercise caution given the inherent tensions spawned by the current conflict which has had a spillover effect in Tamil Nadu. Precautions are necessary therefore to ensure extremists on both sides do not exploit the facility for their ulterior motives.

However, with globalisation now rendering national borders meaningless, Sri Lanka would do well to make use of the opportunity to integrate itself more with the rest of the world. The Chennai-Colombo rail link could be the beginning of this exercise.