Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said government is hopeful that the strategic Chabahar Port will be operational by 2018. <br/><br/>The Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Gadkari who is in Tehran to represent India at the oath taking ceremony of President Hassan Rouhani today told this to PTI. <br/><br/>He said that the Indian government is keen on expediting development of the Chabahar port and is hopeful of certain approvals from the Iranian government for speeding up the work.<br/><br/>He said that that once Chabahar becomes operational the trade and business between India and Iran would see a boost. <br/><br/>Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Baluchistan province on Iran's southern coast can be easily accessed from India's west coast, bypassing Pakistan. <br/> <br/>For greater trade and investment flow with Iran and neighbouring countries, the Cabinet last year cleared proposals for development of Chabahar port. <br/><br/>Besides the bilateral pact to develop the Chabahar port, for which India will invest 500 million , a trilateral Agreement on Transport and Transit Corridor has also been signed by India, Afghanistan and Iran.