Russia needs to create a railway route to the Indian Ocean to reduce risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said in an interview with TASS.

“A rail link to the Indian Ocean should also be explored. Risks related to the Bosphorus and the Strait of Hormuz might require alternative routes: through Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Any options providing access to India are acceptable,” he said.

Russia’s construction industry currently demands long-term financing, the official added. “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 said.