India needs to upgrade its railways on a war footing, says Chinese media

India needs China’s help again as it is in urgent need of upgrading its railways and only China can offer the required help, said Chinese media agency. Concerns are prevailing over the poor maintenance of India's rail network following the deadly train derailment that claimed over 140 lives.

Indore-Patna Express derailment in Kanpur has risen the concerns regarding the poor condition of the country’s rail network.

“India is in urgent need of upgrading and China can offer the necessary help", an article in the State-run Xinhua news agency said.

"Following the Indore-Patna Express derailment, India and China may want to speed up cooperation in infrastructure and China could provide direct support for upgrading India's railways," an article in the website of the sate-run Global Times said.

India holds the second-largest portion of shares and voting rights in the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank which could allow it to benefit from the bank's efforts to improve infrastructure in Asia.

"Chinese banks might provide concessionary loans to India if it allowed more Chinese enterprises to invest in its state-run railway network," it said.

"There is also potential for China and India to cooperate in railway technology. China's technology is advanced even compared with some developed countries and the costs are lower, which are appropriate for being adopted in India. A 2014 research report from the World Bank showed that ticket prices for China's railway were about a quarter of those in other countries," it said.

"Assistance from China is likely to help the South Asian country upgrade its railways, but an open attitude towards Chinese investment in the rail network would be a pre-condition for bilateral cooperation. Following its deadliest train crash since 2010, hopefully India can achieve greater security for its railways," it added.

India has already worked out a number of cooperative agreements with China for the development of railways.