India plans Rs 4,000 cr. capex to expand ops at Chabahar Port
India plans to invest nearly Rs 4,000 crore to expand operations at Iran’s Chabahar Port, aiming for a five-fold increase in capacity to 500,000 TEUs over the next decade, it is learnt. To support this expansion, orders for five mobile harbour cranes have been placed. A second berth is also under consideration for expanded operations. Chabahar Port, funded by India, is projected to handle 100,000 TEUs by FY26, reaching near-full capacity. In FY25, the port is expected to handle around 75,000 TEUs, having already crossed 65,000 TEUs by January-end, matching FY24 levels. Over the 10-year concession period, India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL), which runs the port, plans to modernise it and attract Indian shipping lines. Marketing efforts are underway to boost operational viability. The Economic Survey 2024-25 had highlighted Chabahar’s strategic role in connecting Mumbai to Eurasia via INSTC, cutting transport costs and time, as per a report.
Source: Exim News Service: New Delhi, March 20