According to a government statement, India will make sure that Chabahar Port in Iran becomes operational by 2019.

The work on Chabahar Port in Iran, where India will invest $500 million, is “progressing fast” and the country has already formed a global port company there, according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Commercial operations at the Chabahar port are expected to start in the 18-24 months, which will provide India increased connectivity to Russia and North Baltic countries, among others, Minister of State for Shipping P Radhakrishnan informed the Parliament.

After securing its presence in Iran´s Chabahar port, a key gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia, India is now eyeing a role at Oman´s strategically located Duqm Port to enable Delhi to expand its economic presence in hydrocarbon rich West Asia. It will also allow the Indian Navy greater role in the region.

In what was arguably the most important foreign visit of the year for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he signed a dozen deals with Iran. Emerging from decades of sanctions, Iran could soon be the most happening place for trade in the near future. Modi signed deals covering exchange visits by think tanks to a trilateral agreement between India, Afghanistan and Iran for a trade treaty to develop the Chabahar port.

India and Iran are trying to iron out irritants and finish a contract for the expansion project of the strategically located Chabahar Port

India expects the strategic Chabahar Port, which will give sea-land access to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan

The government has set up a cell to speed work and monitor the setting up of the Chabahar port in Iran within a deadline. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has nominated four officers for coordinating the work.

Afghanistan has stated that it is keen to ink a trilateral agreement with India and Iran on the Chabahar port. Afghanistan on November 16 stressed that its ties with India are steady.