India may speed up work at Iran Port

NEW DELHI: India is likely to fast track work on the phase two of Chabahar port in southeast Iran, which promises to open up an alternate route to landlocked Afghanistan circumventing Pakistan. Roads, transport and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari discussed the contours of the project with the visiting foreign minister of Iran Javad Zarif in Delhi on Friday.

India and Iran had signed an MoU for the development and operation of the strategic port in May. The port will be developed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), which will invest $85.21 million to construct a container terminal and a multi-purpose cargo terminal.

"Both ministers discussed the need for early conclusion of the India-Iran-Afghanistan Transit Agreement, which will enable the potential of Chabahar port to be realized," said a shipping ministry spokesperson.

Access to Afghanistan's Garland Highway can be made from Chabahar port using the existing Iranian road network and the Zaranj-Delaram road, constructed by India in 2009.