As Chabahar corridor gets built, doubts pile up about project

Behind the emerging problems with Chabahar lie growing apprehensions that the ambitious project may not be able to deliver on its promise

Two years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood with Iran President Hassan Rouhani and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani to announce the creation of a trade corridor that would “alter the course of history”. 

From the Indian-built port at Chabahar, the Prime Minister said the corridor would “touch South Asia at one end and Europe at another”, and “spur the unhindered flow of commerce throughout the region”.

Now, though, as the port’s building blocks are being assembled, there are growing doubts about the project’s long-term foundations — and signs that Iran has started looking to India’s key regional rival, China, for investment in