Iran has announced the completion of the strategic 730-km Chabahar–Zahedan railway line, a major infrastructure project expected to strengthen India’s connectivity with Afghanistan, Central Asia and eastern Russia.
The railway, which has been under construction for several years, links the landlocked countries of Central Asia with the Indian Ocean region and India through Chabahar Port. Iranian authorities are now undertaking final safety checks and operational preparations, with the line expected to become fully operational within 3–4 months.
The project includes 33 stations, 39 tunnels and 201 bridges, creating a direct rail corridor from Chabahar toward Iran’s eastern regions and the borders with Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The development is particularly significant for Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, which currently lack a direct and efficient rail connection to international maritime trade routes.
Meanwhile, India and Iran are in discussions over safeguarding India’s rights at Chabahar Port. The issue was reportedly on the agenda when Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
The Indian government is also discussing an arrangement with Iran’s local port authority under which India would retain the right to manage Chabahar Port, with the arrangement expected to facilitate the transfer of those rights to India once US sanctions are lifted, according to an earlier.