First Russian train carrying cargo for India reaches Iran

NEW DELHI: An India-bound Russian cargo sent by train for the first time using the ambitious International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) has reached Iran after travelling around 3,800 km through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The train carrying 39 freight containers entered Iran on Tuesday through the Sarkhas railway station on the border with Turkmenistan, Iranian media reported.

The International NorthSouth Transport Corridor is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode transport project for moving freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. India has been supporting the project.

From the Sarkhas railway station, the cargo will be taken to Bandar Abbas port in southern Iran using a 1,600-km rail route from where it will be shipped to India by sea, the report said.

The Iranian authorities organised a ceremony to welcome the train and it was attended by first vice-president Mohammad Mokhber along with transport, oil, industry, and agriculture ministers, according to Tehran Times.

In his address at the cere- mony, Mokhber stressed the Iranian government’s determination for expanding trade with neighbouring countries, it said.
The train had left Chekhov station in Russia on July 6 and travelled 3,800 km through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to enter Iran, the report said.
The shipment of the cargo using the INSTC comes amid the conflict in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Iran next week and further boosting connectivity in the region could figure in the talks.

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