Which corridor enhances India’s access to Central Asia through Chabarah Port?
AEast-West Corridor
BIndia-Myanmar Highway
CNorth-South Transport Corridor
DSouth Asian Maritime Path
Answer:
C. North-South Transport Corridor
Read Explanation:
International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
- The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network of ship, rail, and road routes for moving freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
- The Chabahar Port in Iran serves as a crucial gateway for this corridor, allowing India to bypass Pakistan to reach Afghanistan and the Central Asian region.
- It significantly reduces transit time and costs compared to traditional routes via the Suez Canal or land-based routes through Pakistan.
Key Strategic Significance
- Strategic Autonomy: By utilizing the INSTC via Chabahar, India enhances its strategic connectivity to energy-rich Central Asian nations (such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and Russia.
- India-Iran-Afghanistan Trilateral Agreement: This agreement, signed in 2016, focused on the development of the Chabahar Port as a transport and transit hub, linking India with the landlocked countries of the region.
- Countering China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): The INSTC is often viewed as India's strategic counter to China’s massive infrastructure projects in the region, providing an alternative route for trade and economic integration.
- Economic Impact: The corridor is estimated to reduce the time and cost of transport by nearly 30-40% compared to the traditional sea route through the Suez Canal.