'India, Iran, Afghanistan keen on expediting pact on Chabahar'

India, Iran and Afghanistan are keen on expediting the tripartite transit agreement on Chabahar port which will open a new gateway for their development and connectivity, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
"We are keen on expanding scope of cooperation to cover development of entire Chabahar Port...This port is going to open a new gateway not only for the development of India but at the same time development of Afghanistan and Iran. This is a win win situation," Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari told PTI.
He was speaking after holding a meeting with delegations from Iran and Afghanistan. The delegation from Iran was led by its Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi, while the Afghan team was led by the country's Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Mohamadullah Batash.

Gadkari said India is committed to developing the Chabahar port in Iran and the work would commence soon after the completion of the tender process.
Today's meeting was held barely a fortnight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, during their talks here, had stressed that expediting the trilateral pact would augment connectivity among the three nations.
Gadkari added, "We will try to complete the project within the time schedule. We are also finding out what are the new things for which we will have opportunity for development and investment. The Iranian Minister has given lots of innovative suggestions regarding the development of business.

"We are in the process and our Prime Minister is very keen on the project...The distance between Kandla to Chabahar is less than the distance between Delhi to Mumbai. So there are lots of opportunities. Gas and petroleum products in Iran are available. We will get the market of Afghanistan also and the material from Afghanistan to Chabahar will be accessible to India."

He said the problems in the project have been sorted out and the nations are looking on building up on this friendship and creating more business opportunities.
A "milestone" pact on the strategic Chabahar port in southern Iran, which will give India access to Afghanistan and Europe bypassing Pakistan, was inked by India and Iran in May this year after detailed discussions between Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Besides the bilateral pact to develop the Chabahar port, for which India will invest USD 500 million, a trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridor was also signed by India, Afghanistan and Iran, which Prime Minister Modi has said could "alter the course of the history of the region".
Gadkari and the visiting Ministers today reviewed the latest situation on contract between Iran and India on the project, as well as procurement of equipment and financing.
They also stressed on the need for expanding scope of cooperation to cover development of entire Chabahar port, projects for funding by EXIM Bank of India and reviewing participation of India in the Chabahar-Zahedan rail construction project.