China is about to begin construction of the Sichuan-Tibet Rail Project near the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh amid the ongoing military deadlock in eastern Ladakh. This railway project is considered to be strategically important.
According to government media reports, the Chinese railway has invited bids for two tunnels and a bridge between Yan in southwestern Sichuan province and Linzhi in Tibet. Also, bids have been invited for the power supply project on the Yan-Linzhi section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway. Linjhi is located near the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh.
This is the second railway project in China after Qinghai-Tibet, which is going to start construction in Tibet. The Sichuan-Tibet Rail Project commences from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, reaching Tibet via Kvado.
The construction of this rail project will reduce travel from Chengdu to Tibet's capital, Lhasa, from 48 hours to 13 hours. According to a Global Times report, the Sichuan-Tibet rail project is estimated to cost around $ 47 billion.