NEW DELHI, INDIA: At the third ministerial meeting of the Mekong Ganga Cooperation in Phnom Penh, the member countries, namely India, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam, agreed to the desirability of a rail link from New Delhi to Hanoi, the Upper House of Parliament was informed Thursday.

In a written reply, Minister of state of External Affairs E Ahamed said this idea was also touched upon in the discussion at the second India-Asean Summit in Bali in October 2003.

The government, he said, has commissioned a feasibility study, costing Rs 3,543,000 (US$76,600), by Rail India Technical and Economic Services Ltd (RITES) to examine the technical feasibility of laying the missing link about 200 kms between Jiribam in Manipur and Kalay in Myanmar.

Laying of missing links and restoration and upgradation of existing rail links in Myanmar-Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam are expected to be covered under the ASEAN Rail Connectivity Programme, he said.

He said no agreement has been signed with the Chinese government on the proposed rail link.

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