The centrepiece of the Narendra Modi government's agenda is the construction of an extensive network of roads, highways, tunnels, bridges, airports, metros, and high-speed trains. However, one crucial aspect of Modi's ambitious infrastructure overhaul remains hidden from the view of voters.
Last week, The Economist pointed out that while most Indians may not directly engage with certain sectors, such as ports, these areas undergo significant transformations that impact their lives. The magazine noted substantial enhancements in the capacity and efficiency of ports, illustrating a deeper reform that often goes unnoticed by the public.
According to The Economist, India's politicians frequently face criticism for prioritising visible outcomes. Yet, their efforts to address infrastructure issues that many voters don't witness firsthand, and to streamline regulations that most overlook, demonstrate the government's capacity for enacting meaningful reform.
Recently, India inked a deal with Iran to administer the Chabahar Port for the next decade, bringing Modi's focus on ports into the spotlight. This marks the first instance of India assuming control of a port abroad. Chabahar, viewed as a vital connectivity hub linking India to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the broader Eurasian region, serves to counterbalance Pakistan's Gwadar port and China's Belt and Road Initiative.
The Chabahar initiative underscores India's expanding geopolitical influence as it contends with Chinese and Pakistani interests in the area, while establishing strategic footholds in foreign territories.
However, Chabahar is just one facet of India's ongoing port development, integral to Modi's vision of transforming the nation into a manufacturing powerhouse. The agreement regarding Chabahar port management is anticipated to benefit domestic traders and exporters, as highlighted by ET. The port's role in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation network aimed at linking South Asia to Europe and Russia via Iran, further underscores its significance.
