International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
The INSTC is a 7,200-km multi-modal transport network of ship, rail, and road routes connecting India to Russia and Northern Europe via Iran and the Caspian Sea region. The founding agreement was signed on 16 May 2002 by India, Iran, and Russia. The corridor is designed to be an alternative to the traditional Suez Canal route, estimated to be 30% cheaper and 40% shorter for freight movement between Mumbai and Moscow.
- Length: approximately 7,200 km
- Founding agreement: 16 May 2002 (India, Iran, Russia)
- Current members: 13 countries — India, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Ukraine, Syria
- Route: Mumbai (sea) to Chabahar/Bandar Abbas (Iran) to Bandar Anzali (Caspian coast) to Astrakhan/Baku (sea/rail) to Moscow/St. Petersburg (rail)
- Chabahar port serves as the eastern anchor of the INSTC, providing the critical India-Iran sea link
- Alternative western route goes through Bandar Abbas and then overland to Baku via Azerbaijan
● Tracked since February 11, 2026 · last seen August 31, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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