Several ports, including three in India and one in Israel, have been shortlisted; there are missing links in many of the proposed routes, though rail connectivity is being upgraded in West Asia
Days after India, U.S., Saudi Arabia, UAE and other countries launched the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), officials said many of the details are still being ironed out, and multiple route options are being considered that will include ports like Haifa in Israel and Piraeus in Greece, The Hinduhas learnt.
Among the ports that could be connected on the west coast of India are Mundra (Gujarat), Kandla (Gujarat), and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Navi Mumbai). In the Middle East, at least five ports have been shortlisted to be connected to the Indian ports which include Fujairah, Jebel Ali, and Abu Dhabi in the UAE as well as Dammam and Ras Al Khair ports in Saudi Arabia. “Multiple routes are being considered to prospectively reduce the freight load on one route,” official sources told The Hindu. It is to be noted that apart from government-owned ports, both Mundra port in India and Haifa port in Israel are privately controlled by the Adani Group, and have been highlighted in proposal documents that The Hindu accessed.
