Chabahar Port Expansion Plan and Sagarmala 2.0 Corpus
Why in the news
India detailed Chabahar expansion amid sanctions uncertainty, and announced Sagarmala 2.0.
Chabahar Port
- Run by state-owned India Ports Global (IPGL).
- Capex of ₹4,000 crore for modern cranes, mechanisation and terminal upgrades; cranes within three years.
- Gateway to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), linking India, Central Asia and Russia.
| Period | Projected TEUs |
|---|---|
| FY25 | 30,000 |
| Agreement year 5 | 140,000 |
| Agreement year 10 | 300,000 |
Concerns
- Trump’s February 2025 executive order reassessing sanctions could hit the project; the Shipping and External Affairs ministries are discussing it.
- India avoided a penalty-bearing Minimum Guaranteed Traffic clause, though targets exist.
Sagarmala 2.0
- Announced by Sarbananda Sonowal; corpus ₹40,000 crore.
- Focus: shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling.