Modernizing dysfunctional transport infrastructure in Russia

Amid blockades of transport corridors, Russia plans to modernize long-dormant ferry infrastructure at Makhachkala port.

Geopolitical tensions and the imposition of additional sanctions have exposed Russia’s transport corridors to blockages and capacity shortages.

With the imposition of recent sanctions, the Baltic and Black Sea straits are at risk of potential blockages for Russian cargo.

The blockade of the straits has led to a redistribution of Russian cargo flows to various land routes, in particular, the diversion of cargo to the Asia-Pacific region and China has limited the capacity of the railway polygon in eastern Russia.

According to Russian maritime experts, the traditional route for merchant ships through the Suez Canal has long been transformed into “Russian roulette” due to Houthi attacks.

Given this situation, Russia has begun to develop the necessary infrastructure for new corridors, primarily focusing on the development of the Northern Sea Route.

Despite the fact that Russia has announced the unhindered transportation of cargo through the Northern Sea Route throughout the year, due to the insufficient number of nuclear icebreakers, the transportation of cargo remains an insurmountable problem in the near future.

As a result, one of the alternatives for Russia is the development of the North-South corridor and the transfer of cargo to Iran-India.

Russia plans to launch four new ferries – two rails and two roads – to Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan via the North-South Corridor using the port of Makhachkala on the Caspian Sea.

The launch of four new ferries from the port of Makhachkala on the Caspian Sea demonstrates the importance Russia attaches to the modernization of its currently dysfunctional transport infrastructure.

Info: transcor.ge