On May 16, 2002, an agreement was signed by Russia, Iran, and India for the NSTC project. This project involves the establishment of a corridor starting from Mumbai or other ports in India, crossing the Indian Ocean and Oman Sea, and reaching Chabahar on the southern coast of Iran. From there, the corridor will utilize Iran’s railway system to extend from south to north, splitting into three branches. The first branch will lead to Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan before ultimately reaching Russia. The second branch will pass through the Caspian Sea and end at Astra Khan port in Russia, located along the spans of the Volga River. The third branch will traverse through Caucasus territories including Azerbaijan or Armenia, Georgia, and finally reach southern Russia.
The most important cities along the International North-South Transport Corridor include Tehran (the capital of Iran), Mumbai (the commercial capital of India), Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan), Yerevan (the capital of Armenia), and Moscow (the capital of Russia). These cities play key roles in the corridor’s success, facilitating the movement of cargo and passengers between Asia and Europe.
The International North-South Transport Corridor is expected to play a significant role in connecting Russia to the four main members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) via Iran, providing a fast and safe connection for seven countries in Central Asia to free seas. Additionally, the project is attracting interest from countries in the region, such as Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, who have shown a keen interest in participating in the project in the future. With its potential to improve economic integration, promote trade, and reduce transportation costs in the region, the INSTC is expected to be a major contributor to the development of the region.
