Explained: What Is Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor?

Prime Minister Modi, during a community program in Moscow, Russia, announced the commencement of the Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor. This ambitious project aims to establish a sea route spanning 5,647 nautical miles (approximately 10,500 km), connecting the Indian port of Chennai to Vladivostok in Russia. Highlighting the significance of this initiative, PM Modi noted that India and Russia are currently engaged in preliminary work for the project, which was initially proposed during his 2019 visit to Russia.

Currently, trade between India and Russia primarily relies on the Mumbai-St. Petersburg sea route, covering a distance of 8,675 nautical miles (around 16,000 km) and taking approximately 40 days for goods transportation. In contrast, the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor is expected to significantly reduce shipping distances to about 5,400 km, enabling goods to be transported within approximately 24 days.

The establishment of this new sea route holds promise for enhancing trade opportunities not only between India and Russia but also for facilitating easier trade with countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is anticipated that commodities like crude oil, coal, LPG, and various goods will benefit from expedited transport times between the regions.

Moreover, the Chennai-Vladivostok maritime corridor is set to bolster Chennai's economic prominence by increasing cargo traffic with nations in Southeast Asia and even reaching landlocked Mongolia. This development positions Chennai to emerge as a robust economic hub akin to Mumbai. Concurrently, Russia has expressed intentions to double its trade volume with India, currently at 150 million tonnes, through the Vladivostok port.