New Delhi: The Shipping Ministry is reviving an old agreement with Iran for modernisation of Chabahar Port for faster import of natural gas, urea and fertiliser, and a Cabinet note in this regard will be floated soon.
"The NDA government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee had signed an agreement with Iran for the Chabahar Port, but nothing has moved on that proposal as yet. We import gas, urea, fertiliser through that port, the distance between Chabahar to Gujarat is less than Delhi to Mumbai," Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
"The Cabinet note on the subject will be floated for its consideration in the next 10-15 days," he said addressing media at a conference to mark 100 days of the Narendra Modi-led government.
A joint venture between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Kandla Port will modernise this port in Iran if plans get approval, Gadkari said. It will be the first port outside India which will be set up by domestic ports.
"This port will be developed to facilitate import of oil, urea, fertiliser to India," Gadkari added.
The Ministry of Shipping has also formalised a coastal shipping arrangement with Bangladesh in 2014 which would boost the coastal movement of vessels between the two countries.
The government has also decided to establish an outer harbour project at Tuticorin at an estimated cost of Rs 11,650 crore. The preparatory steps for this project are underway.
Gadkari holds charge of Road Transport and Highways, Rural Development, Drinking Water & Sanitation and Panchayati Raj, besides Shipping.
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