It should link the European Union, Russia with the countries of Central Asia, as well as India and the states of Southeast Asia.

Tashkent has already agreed with representatives of the interim government of Afghanistan on a railway project, Sputnik says.

Russian Railways, as well as research institutes Roszheldorproekt and the Institute for Transport Economics and Development, will help in drafting, studying the advantages and disadvantages of each route and preparing cartographic materials. The project cost is about $5 billion.