File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎155v] (315/330)

16. The point of junction between the international railway and the Indian
system of railways will be a place of large importance, and an essential condi
tion is that it should be at a site where an ample supply of water was available,
both for residential and railway working purposes, and this can only be found
in Seistan.
17. Incidentally it may be remarked that there should be a change of
gauge at this point of junction, and it would be as well at this stage to leave
undecided the question of the gauge to be finally adopted between IVushki
and Seistan, as a smaller gauge than that adopted for the international line
has considerable advantages as regards the difficulties of converting it to a
wider gauge if the line was in the future ever likely to be made use of for
purposes of the invasion of India.
18. The policy proposed would not place on India a financial risk of a
character different to what she has cheerfully embarked on in the past in
respect to frontier railways. Up to the present time a sum of approximately
25 to 30 crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. have been spent on lines essentially made for military
reasons. A sum of half a crore Equivalent to ten million, or one hundred lakhs. Used especially in connection with money (rupees). of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. has only just been recently spent on
the Loi-Shilman Railway, in order to provide a line still incomplete and
ending at a place that makes it of no practical use for any purpose either
military or commercial.
19. In the case of the proposed line from Nushki, it could he extended
to Seistan for a sum of three crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. approximately. For such an
important political object three crores is a very small sum. Besides tins,
granted a stable government in Persia, Seistan is a valuable area to tap by a
railway, a matter which, I believe, has been dealt with fully by Sir Henry
McMahon in his report on Seist iu.
20. The Nushki-Seistnn route seems the best to adopt for linking up the
Indian Railway system with the international line for the following reasons:—-
(a) It falls in with the proposals of the Russian Oonsorlium and its
construction by India would not excite any particular comment
and be considered as simply carrying out a scheme that had
already been decided on.
The route would lie for practically the whole length in territory
under British influence, Persian territory only being entered
upon to the extent necessary to carry the rails to the site most
suitable in Seistan for the establishment of the big junction
station contemplated there.
(5) On the other hand, a line from Karachi to Seis^an traverses an
extremely difficult country and would be costly to build and
work. The Karacbi-Randar Abbas alignment would most
probably give rise to very considerable political objection on the
part of Russia. It would be avoiding the direct route and its
cost would be very heavy indeed. It would also probably be
urged that the adoption of this alignment was obviously with
the intention ol placing India in a specially favourable position
as regards South Persia.
(c) The Nuskhi-Seistan line will be far cheaper, the probable figures of
cost based on Mr. Johns* reconnaissance would probably be —
... 3 crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ;
... 7 4 ditto.
... 20* crores of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ; assumed
figures; it would cer
tainly be more than the
line to Seistan.
The cost of this line would
be extremely heavy,
running as it would do
across the hills coming
down to the sea and
having to pass over a
great many creeks and
estuaries.
x'. uauty.i lu oeisian
Karachi to Seistan ...
Karachi to Bandar Abbaa
Siucv estimated at U crores, vide euclosure ^o. 7.