Russian coal will be reaching Indian ports via Bandar Abbas Port of Iran in the Indian Ocean. Thus India’s investment in Chabahar Port is justified as it forms a crucial node in connectivity for trade with Russia, Central Asia and Europe while bypassing Pakistan.
As part of this crucial infrastructure, Iran is also building a 700-kilometre railway line that connects Chabahar port to the country’s railway network at the city of Zahedan. Such a connection could boost the attractiveness of freight transportation through the port and along the INSTC, for which the port will be an end point.