INSTC friendship motor rally to enter Russia on Monday

NEW DELHI: Aiming to promote connectivity between India and Russia for strong trade and investments and cooperation in cultural spheres, tourism, science and research, an International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) Friendship Motor Rally is all set to enter Russia?s Makhachkala on the Caspian coast on Monday.nnAt present, they are in Azerbaijan?s capital Baku.nnAs part of the second leg of the rally, it was started from Bandar Abbas in Iran to Saint Petersburg, Russia on April 29 and will end on May 16. The first phase started on February 20 from Bhilai and concluded at Delhi on March 14.nn?The idea of the rally is to promote INSTC and trade among the countries? along the corridor including India, Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia. Earlier, it had to go all around the Arabian Sea now the trade can happen through this route with less than 50 percent time and cost consumption,? said Praveen Praveen Chandra Bhanjdeo, a member of the Odisha Assembly and President of Kalinga Motor Sports Club told UNI.nnThe Kaling Motor Sports Club is the organizer of the rally. Earlier, it had organised four international motor rallies including India-Nepal and Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal. The India-Russia will be the longest motor rally in India.nnThe North-South transport corridor is designed to connect Northern Europe with South-East Asia, including the unification of the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. The railway Kazvin-Resht-Astara (Iran) ? Astara (Azerbaijan) is part of the transport corridor ?North-South.?nnThis transport corridor will connect the port of St. Petersburg with the Iranian ports of Bandar Abbas and Chakhbehar in the Gulf of Oman, through which the sea branch reaches the Indian port of Mumbai, Mr Bhanjdeo said.nnIn the first phase, 70 people participated in the event and covered 8500 km by road. However, in the second leg, there are 45 participants and the distance to be covered is 5700 km by road and 900 nautical miles by sea.nn?There are 45 participants with 18 vehicles of Mahindra and Mahindra. The roads are well constructed. We are enjoying our road tour. These roads will help all the INSTC countries in goods transportation,? said Gautam Kumar, one of among the rally participants.nnThe idea was first cropped at the Goa Summit of BRICS, where Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to organise a friendship motor rally to mark the 70th year of diplomatic ties between Russia and India. After then, the Ministry of External Affairs directed Kalinga Motor Sports Club to hold this rally.