Russia explores possible rail route to India amid Strait of Hormuz risks: What we know
3 min readUpdated: Aug 9, 2026 11:32 PM IST
Russia is exploring the possibility of creating a railway route to the Indian Ocean, with access to India among the options being considered, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said in an interview with TASS.
Khusnullin said a rail link could help reduce risks linked to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz, and suggested possible routes through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He added that “any options providing access to India are acceptable.”
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, while the Bosphorus connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Turkiye, which controls the Bosphorus, has said the strait remains open despite the heightened concerns.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that Russia’s construction industry currently needs long-term financing to support its growth and development.
“The construction industry is already capable of handling an additional one trillion rubles annually. However, if such a volume is secured for the next five years, it would be possible to expand capacity and build even more,” he told TASS.
The move comes amid the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, which has raised concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. “Roughly 25% of global oil trade and about 20% of LNG shipments transit through the Strait of Hormuz,” TASS reported.
On August 7, India and Russia reviewed their cooperation in key sectors during the 12th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Modernization and Industrial Cooperation, held in New Delhi.
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The meeting, held under the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, focused on progress in areas including modernization, mining, fertilizers and railway transport.
Both sides welcomed new areas of cooperation in railway transport, including railway infrastructure, the Vande Bharat train project and signalling equipment. The two countries also discussed cooperation in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAVs), 3D printing, production of Russia’s SJ-100 regional aircraft and aero-engines.
Russia’s international rail network
According to the Federal Passenger Company (FPC), the national passenger rail carrier of the Russian Federation, the company operates 40 international long-distance routes connecting Russia with 19 countries across Europe and Asia.
These countries include Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, China, Mongolia, North Korea, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Moldova.
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