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Smita Sharma
Tribune News service
New Delhi, September 20
Dismissing reports of delay in the Chabahar port project, Union Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadakari today claimed that the regional ambitious project will be operational by December 2018. He emphasised, “We understand the sanctity of the project. I want to dispel the view that commitment of either Iran or India to the project is in any doubt.”
Located in the Sistan-Baluchistan province on the southeastern coast of Iran, Chabahar will provide strategic connectivity to India with Afghanistan, Russia and Central Asia. Located some 1,000 km from Kandla and 1,400 km from Mumbai, Chabahar will ease sea route access for cargo, trade and business. India is developing and equipping two terminals at the Shahid Behshti-Chabahar port, which will be operated and maintained at a cost of nearly Rs 800 crore ($121 million) for 10 years.
Welcoming Gadkari’s announcement, Afghan Ambassador to India Dr Shaida Abdali said: “This shows seriousness of India in making the project time-bound.”
Iranian envoy to India Ghulam Reza Ansari said, “When Trump was speaking about strategy in Afghanistan and encouraging India to do more, hopefully he knew the geography that India has no direct land connection with Afghan and Chabahar will provide the only sea route access.”
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