Tehran, July 17 (MRUD NEWS)—Rail and road transit are steadily increasing through Iran's territory as transited freight recorded 2.8 million tons in the last three months that shows 43 percent increase compared to the same period in the last year, according to Mohammadreza Hedayati, the director-general of Transit and International Transportation Bureau at Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization (RMTO). 

Hedayati speaking to IRIB, pointed to the increasing demands for road transit due to the change in logistics system and increased costs for [maritime] freight transit. 

Iran targets 20 million tons transit a year in the road sector that necessitates good connections to the railway networks and border terminals, he informed. 

Relevantly, inauguration of Razi Border terminal is expected by the next month that is joint Iran-Turkey Border Terminal. 

Quite recently, transit through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) was unprecedently put into effect following the official launch of the eastern section of the Corridor by arrival of the first Russian rail freight transit to India through Iran on 12 July. 

The train leaving Russia from Chekhov on July 6 is heading to India's Nhava Sheva Port. It has entered Iran through Sarakhs Border after travelling 3800 kilometers through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

The train carrying 39 containers, is transporting 1600 km rail route in Iran southwards to Bandar Abbas Port. 

International North-South Transport Corridor is a corridor to increase trade between India and Russia. This trade route is 7200 Km long and the transport of freight is through a multi-mode network of roads, ships, and railways. The corridor is aimed at reducing the costs between India and Russia by about 30 percent and bringing down the transit time from 40 days by more than half.