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With the Kashmir Rail Link nearing completion, it might be worthwhile looking at the other planned railway construction in and across the Himalayas. Here is an article on the planned rail lines that are currently in various stages of development:
https://thediplomat.com/2016/12/trans-himalayan-railroads-and-geopolitics-in-high-asia/
Some more details and cost estimates for the projects in India for the Himachal - Ladakh and Kashmir Valley - Ladakh rail Links:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/railway-lines-in-himalayas-face-economic-challenge/95291.html
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-begins-work-on-himachal-ladakh-rail-link-339352-2016-09-05
The Indian project(s) are costed at around $32 billion over 10-15 years, a few billion more than the entire Gateway Project in NY/NJ. By the time it is all said and done, it will probably be nearing $50 billion though, given the experience of the Kashmir Rail link.
And an old article from 2007 on the feasibility study of the Karakoram Railway which was then costed at $10 billion, so it is probably closer to $20 billion by now.
https://pamirtimes.net/2011/07/03/feasibility-for-411-mile-rail-link-between-pakistan%e2%80%99s-town-of-havelian-and-khunjerab-completed/
If nothing else, these lines will bring a quantum leap of prosperity to areas that have been poor mainly due to their inaccessibility and inhospitable environment, specially in the bitter cold winters.
https://thediplomat.com/2016/12/trans-himalayan-railroads-and-geopolitics-in-high-asia/
Some more details and cost estimates for the projects in India for the Himachal - Ladakh and Kashmir Valley - Ladakh rail Links:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/railway-lines-in-himalayas-face-economic-challenge/95291.html
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-begins-work-on-himachal-ladakh-rail-link-339352-2016-09-05
The Indian project(s) are costed at around $32 billion over 10-15 years, a few billion more than the entire Gateway Project in NY/NJ. By the time it is all said and done, it will probably be nearing $50 billion though, given the experience of the Kashmir Rail link.
And an old article from 2007 on the feasibility study of the Karakoram Railway which was then costed at $10 billion, so it is probably closer to $20 billion by now.
https://pamirtimes.net/2011/07/03/feasibility-for-411-mile-rail-link-between-pakistan%e2%80%99s-town-of-havelian-and-khunjerab-completed/
If nothing else, these lines will bring a quantum leap of prosperity to areas that have been poor mainly due to their inaccessibility and inhospitable environment, specially in the bitter cold winters.