PMO wants early development of Chahbahar Port in Iran
14 Aug 2014 5:08 AM IST
In the wake of China’s recent up-gradation activities at Gwadar port in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after his wished aerial trip over Siachen, has asked for the current status of India’s developmental activities at Chahbahar Port in Iran.
Though, India is claiming that investment in Chahbahar Port for its up-gradation will enhance the trade activities between the two countries as well in Central Asia, experts feel that it has an immense importance due to India’s direct access to Afghanistan and Pakistan in case of any crises.
It was learnt that the NDA government after being tipped by the intelligence agencies on China’s covert operation at Gwadar port, which is built at Baluchistan Coast in Pakistan, which was named as ‘The Chinese Gibraltar’ by the American agencies, has decided to expedite the pending works at the Chahbahar Port at the earliest. The PMO has also asked the Navy to monitor the whole process in assistance with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the government of Iran. It is expected that soon a team of Navy officials will visit Iran to take stock of the current situation.
MEA sources said, ‘Considering most of the work at the final stage at the Gwadar port, the PMO has instructed the concerned officials to take the Chahbahar Port on a priority basis.’ Chahbahar is officially declared as free trade and industrial zone by the Iranian government. Due to its free trade status, the city has increased its importance in international trade and the Chahbahar port, presently under modernization work with India’s investment, is the best access point of Iran to the Indian Ocean. Also, it is the closet route to central Asia, Afghanistan markets and only 72 kilometers away from Gwadar port in Pakistan.
The birth capacity at the Chahbahar port is ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 tons and already works on electricity, telecommunication, warehouse and cold storage facilities has been done.
Though, India is claiming that investment in Chahbahar Port for its up-gradation will enhance the trade activities between the two countries as well in Central Asia, experts feel that it has an immense importance due to India’s direct access to Afghanistan and Pakistan in case of any crises.
It was learnt that the NDA government after being tipped by the intelligence agencies on China’s covert operation at Gwadar port, which is built at Baluchistan Coast in Pakistan, which was named as ‘The Chinese Gibraltar’ by the American agencies, has decided to expedite the pending works at the Chahbahar Port at the earliest. The PMO has also asked the Navy to monitor the whole process in assistance with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the government of Iran. It is expected that soon a team of Navy officials will visit Iran to take stock of the current situation.
MEA sources said, ‘Considering most of the work at the final stage at the Gwadar port, the PMO has instructed the concerned officials to take the Chahbahar Port on a priority basis.’ Chahbahar is officially declared as free trade and industrial zone by the Iranian government. Due to its free trade status, the city has increased its importance in international trade and the Chahbahar port, presently under modernization work with India’s investment, is the best access point of Iran to the Indian Ocean. Also, it is the closet route to central Asia, Afghanistan markets and only 72 kilometers away from Gwadar port in Pakistan.
The birth capacity at the Chahbahar port is ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 tons and already works on electricity, telecommunication, warehouse and cold storage facilities has been done.
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