Russia is currently studying the possibility of building an alternative rail corridor to the Indian Ocean to remove the risks of transit through choke points of international waterways, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told TASS in an interview.
Moscow has three options to create the overland connectivity with India,” Khusnullin said. Possible corridors may run through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan—Russia is prepared to explore all corridors that will lead into the Indian market.
The proposal falls at a time when there are vast concerns concerning disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz, as increased military hostility has erupted between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Iran later said it was putting in place a naval blockade against ships “cooperating” with the US, Israel and allies.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most critical and vital energy corridors in the world with a substantial portion of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas movements passing through it. The disruption, if it persists, would have far-reaching consequences for international trade and oil and gas markets.
As a result, Russia could have the ability to secure a new railway freight route to India without relying upon the dangerous sea lanes. The creation of such a network, however, would be complex infrastructure, financial and the geopolitical challenges especially in multiple countries on the transport corridor.
Another priority was the continued investment in Russia’s domestic construction industry, said Khusnullin. The industry has a demand for an extra trillion rubles, he said, adding that this would cover the gap between production and consumption. If he is correct, then he says that if the funding can be secured for five years, it would help to increase construction capacity and allow the sector to go onto bigger projects.