Inclusion of Chabahar port in the INSTC route

In news : Recently, India proposed inclusion of Chabahar port in the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) route

Key updates

It was proposed during the ‘Chabahar Day’ at the Maritime India Summit
It reflects India’s strong commitment to enhancing regional connectivity.
During the event, External Affairs Minister said that the Chabahar port has not only emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region but also facilitated delivery of humanitarian assistance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) route

The INSTC is a key trade corridor project, wherein India is partnering with 12 countries to establish an economic corridor

The Corridor is a 7,200-km multi-mode transport project to move freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.
The route primarily involves moving freight from India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia via ship, rail and road
The primary objective of the NSTC project is to reduce costs in terms of time and money over the traditional route currently being used
The corridor also aims to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali, etc

Chabahar port

It is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman.
It serves as Iran’s only oceanic port, and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti,
The location of the Chabahar port has strategic advantage and high potential to provide connectivity among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other Commonwealth of Independent States countries, and boost trade.
Chabahar Port also provides direct access to India’s Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan. Chabahar route will result in 60% reduction in shipment costs and 50% reduction in shipment time from India to Central Asia.
In 2016, India signed a deal with Iran entailing $8 billion investment in Chabahar port and industries in Chabar Special Economic Zone, including an aluminium smelter and a urea making facility, at Chabahar port is being developed was a transit route to Afghanistan and central Asia