Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2931
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2020

CHABAHAR PORT OPERATIONS

2931. DR. AMAR PATNAIK:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :

(a) the details of port development projects being carried out internationally in partnership with India;

(b) whether the understanding demonstrated by the US with respect to the operation of the Chabahar port extends only to continued humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan; and

(c) whether the port’s operations are currently restricted to supplying humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (c) India is partnering in port development projects in Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

In Bangladesh, India will be partnering in a project for upgradation of Mongla Port under Government of India (GoI) Line of Credit of US$ 4.5 billion extended to Bangladesh. The estimated cost of the project is US$ 530 million. The project consists building of two container terminals and related infrastructure facilities at the port.

In Myanmar, a port at Sittwe and IWT Terminals in Sittwe and Paletwa as part of Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project have been constructed with Government of India’s grant assistance in May 2017 at a cost of about US$ 78 million. A Port Operator has taken over the port operations from 01 February 2020.

In Sri Lanka, India is partnering a project for upgradation of Kankesanthurai (KKS) Harbour located in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka under a Line of Credit Agreement for US$ 45.27 million signed with Sri Lanka in January 2018.

In Iran, India is participating in the development of the first phase of Shahid Behesti Port in Chabahar in cooperation with the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran. The Indian company, India Ports Global Limited, has taken over port operations at the Shahid Behesti Port at Chabahar in December 2018 and has successfully handled over 5 lakhs tons of cargo including Afghan cargo since then. The U.S has shown understanding of the importance of the Chabahar Port operations for continued humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan and to provide Afghanistan with economic alternatives..

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