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Iran Completes Chabahar-Zahedan Rail Link, Unlocking New Trade Route for India to Central Asia
- •Iran has completed the 730-km Chabahar-Zahedan railway line, significantly enhancing India's access to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and parts of Russia.
- •The railway, featuring 33 stations, 39 tunnels, and 201 bridges, connects Chabahar on Iran's southeastern coast to Zahedan, providing a crucial maritime link for landlocked Central Asian countries.
- •The project is expected to be fully operational within three to four months, following final safety checks by Iranian authorities.
- •India and Iran continue discussions on New Delhi's involvement in Chabahar Port, with the issue recently addressed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- •India Ports Global Limited and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation signed a 10-year agreement in May 2024 for the development and operation of the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar, with India completing its $120-million financial commitment.
Key Questions Answered
The newly completed 730-km Chabahar-Zahedan railway line features 33 stations, 39 tunnels, and 201 bridges. Iranian authorities are currently conducting final safety checks, and the route is expected to become fully operational within three to four months.
The rail link connects Iran's southeastern coast with Zahedan, offering landlocked Afghanistan, Central Asia, and parts of Russia an alternative connection to maritime routes through the Indian Ocean. This gives India a strategic trade corridor that improves regional access and bypasses Pakistan.
India Ports Global Limited and Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation signed a 10-year agreement in May 2024 to develop and operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar, following which India completed its $120-million financial commitment under the contract.
