India-Russia mull speedy operations on new sea route

India and Russia seek to soon begin operations on the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC), Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday.

An official statement said the EMC is estimated to reduce the time required to transport cargo between Indian and Russian Ports of Far-East Region by up to 16 days. Once complete, it will take 24 days, down from presently over 40 days, to transport goods from India to Far East Russia. The trade route between Mumbai and St Petersburg covers a distance of 8,675 nautical miles which takes approximately 35 to 40 days.

The Chennai-Vladivostok sea route (EMC) will be covering a distance of about 5,600 nautical miles. A large container ship which travels at the normal cruising speed of 20-25 knots (37-46 km/hour), will be able to cover this distance in approximately 10 to 12 days, the statement added.


Sonowal, who is on an official visit to Russia, said, "Currently, there are 802 projects worth investment of more than $65 billion for implementation under the Sagarmala Programme by 2035. Out of which, 228 projects worth $ 14.6 billion have been completed and 260 projects worth $ 27 billion are under implementation."

Another 314 projects worth $ 24 billion are under various stages of development, he added.