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Graphic shows route of Tibet railway opened and under construction
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TRANSPORT

China opens new railway line across Tibet

By Jordi Bou

June 30, 2021 - Tibet’s first electrified railway, linking the region’s capital, Lhasa, with the city of Nyingchi, is part of what Beijing calls the “project of the century” – building Tibet’s second rail link with China’s interior.

According to a report in The Economist, the 37-billion yuan ($5.7bn) track from Lhasa to Nyingchi is slated to begin operations from June 30.

Officials call it a gift for the Communist Party’s 100th birthday, which will be officially celebrated on July 1st.

Construction of the 435-km section linking Nyingchi and Lhasa began in 2015 and is part of the 1,900-km Sichuan-Tibet railway project.

The section linking Chengdu and Ya'an in Sichuan opened in 2018.
Work on the middle and most challenging section, connecting Ya’an and Nyingchi, began in November and is expected to be completed in 2030.

The new railway runs very close to Arunachal Pradesh, India’s northeastern-most
state, which is partly claimed by China.

Critics say that railways spur influx of migrants who threaten the cultural integrity of Tibet.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 08/06/2021; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Newscom, Google
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