Iran announces completion of Chabahar-Zahedan Railway featuring 39 tunnels and 201 bridges across 730 Km
TEHRAN: Iran has completed construction of the strategic Chabahar-Zahedan Railway Line. Construction was completed on 25 September 2026, with the newly laid tracks expected to become fully operational over the next three to four months.
The infrastructure project connects Iran’s oceanic hub of Chabahar directly to the national rail network at Zahedan, offering India an uninterrupted overland route into landlocked Central Asia.
The expansive railway features 33 stations, 39 tunnels, and 201 bridges across challenging geographical terrain in southeastern Iran.
Once operational, the project is expected to have an annual capacity of approximately 2.2 million passengers and 7.7 million tonnes of freight.
Key intermediary stations including Khash and Iranshahr have been outfitted to handle immediate operational logistics.
For India, the rail link establishes a crucial supply-chain bridge bypassing Pakistan, substantially reducing transit costs and time for Indian cargo heading to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and eastern Russia via the International North-South Transport Corridor.
Indian exporters have long relied on maritime-cum-land bypasses to access landlocked markets in Central Asian republics like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.
The project has faced numerous delays over the years due to geopolitical tensions and international sanctions.
India initially partnered with Iran to construct the rail line, but following geopolitical and funding delays, Iran proceeded with independent construction.
The completion of the Chabahar-Zahedan rail artery operationalises years of diplomatic and economic investment in Iran’s deep-water port.
The route is planned to be extended from Zahedan approximately 800 km north via Mashhad to Sarakhs on the border with Turkmenistan.
