New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is expected to give the go-ahead to India developing the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar in the coming weeks. Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari said his ministry will move a note seeking the approval of the cabinet for the development of Chabahar port in the next 10 to 15 days.
“Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust will be tasked with carrying out the development of the port. This is the first port outside of India that we will be developing. It is a big achievement and it will be done on a war footing,” Gadkari said. India and Iran had agreed to look at developing the port in southeastern Iran in 2003 during a visit to India by then Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, but the venture has not made much progress. The Chabahar port on the Gulf of Oman is 72km from Pakistan’s Chinese-constructed port of Gwadar. [16/09/14]
