Iran to Launch Zahedan-Chabahar Railway Next Year

The Zahedan-Chabahar railway, in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, will become operational in the next Iranian year (starting March 21, 2021), said the head of Parliament’s Construction Committee. Noting that the necessary funding for the project has been supplied by the Iran National Development Fund (NDF), Mohammadreza Rezaei-Kouchi said local contractors like Khatam-al Anbiya Construction headquarters are working on the project, which will soon be completed and operational, iribnews.ir reported. Rezaei-Kouchi underlined the importance of expanding the country’s national railway network, saying: “Investment in railways can be of great benefit to the country in saving fuel consumption and reducing pollution.”

Referring to the country’s 6th Development Plan (March 2017-2022) the goals depicted in this plan for the expansion of railways, the official added, “Achieving a 30% freight transportation capacity and a 20% share of passenger traffic through railways is one of the goals that the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) is pursuing.”

He further mentioned the International North-South Transport Corridor, saying that the India-Russia section of this route will be completed through Iran, and the railway network has a major share in this section, which can play an effective role for the country’s economy.

The official emphasized the necessity of joining the country’s production centers through railways, and added, “There are many production centers in the country that, unfortunately, are not connected to the railway network and their cargoes are carried through roads.”

“Connection of production centers to the railway network can have a significant positive impact on the cost of goods, reducing the time of arrival of goods, as well as greater reliability and security,” he stressed.

The track-laying operation of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway began in early July in a ceremony attended by Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Mohammad Eslami. - Iran Daily