BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 25. Iran, Russia,
and Azerbaijan are stepping up efforts to operationalize the
railway component of the North–South International Transport
Corridor (INSTC), Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development
Farzaneh Sadegh said in an interview with Trend.


According to the minister, the missing rail segment within the
framework of the INSTC is the Rasht-Astara railway in northern
Iran.


She noted that the railway line is being implemented under
agreements and memoranda of understanding reached with Russia.
Currently, land acquisition along the route is underway.


“Over the past 1.5 years, the land acquisition process has
accelerated. By March 21, land along the full 160 kilometers of the
railway route will be completely acquired. A 125-kilometer section
of the route has already been handed over to the Russian side to
carry out construction-related research and studies,” she said.


The minister added that construction of the railway line and the
purchase of rolling stock will be financed through a Russian
loan.


“According to the agreement, the Rasht-Astara railway is
expected to be completed by 2030. Both sides are making efforts in
this direction. Azerbaijan is also contributing to these efforts.
Through the INSTC, cargo from India to Finland will be delivered
faster compared to sea routes,” she noted.


Furthermore, Farzaneh Sadegh also touched upon the strategically
significant Chabahar-Zahedan railway line in Iran, stating that
several steps have been taken in recent years regarding its
construction.







She said that operational work on the Chabahar-Zahedan railway
has accelerated over the past 1.5 years, and rail laying along the
line will be completed within the next month.


“In the spring, the railway line is expected to become
operational. This is a highly complex railway line, as numerous
tunnels and bridges had to be constructed.


The importance of this railway lies in connecting international
waters via Chabahar port to the city of Zahedan and to Iran’s
national railway network. This means that countries located in
eastern Iran, Central Asia, as well as in southern and western
Iran, will gain access to international waters through the
Chabahar-Zahedan railway, as they are connected to Iran’s railway
network,” she said.


In addition, Sadegh emphasized that the construction of the
Chabahar–Zahedan railway was carried out entirely by local
specialists. Despite several challenges during construction,
including 12-day military air attacks against Iran last year and
other incidents, work on the railway has not halted over the past 2
years.


She added that once operational, goods transported via
international waters will be able to reach countries in northern
Iran and in the opposite direction through Iran’s railway network.
The railway will also significantly reduce distances, creating new
opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesspeople to use Iran as a
transit route.