Construction of North-South transport corridor will be accomplished in 2019, as projected, MP says
11.01.2016,
16:34
The construction of the North-South transport corridor stretching from southern Armenian Meghri on border with Iran to Bavra on the Armenian-Georgian border will be accomplished in 2019, as projected, Gagik Minasyan, the chairman of an Armenian parliamentary committee on budget and finance issues from the governing Republican Party of Armenia, told a news conference today.
YEREVAN, January 11. /ARKA/. The construction of the North-South transport corridor stretching from southern Armenian Meghri on border with Iran to Bavra on the Armenian-Georgian border will be accomplished in 2019, as projected, Gagik Minasyan, the chairman of an Armenian parliamentary committee on budget and finance issues from the governing Republican Party of Armenia, told a news conference today.
The first two sections of the transport corridor were inaugurated on December 29 last year. The first, six-lane section stretches from Yerevan to Artashat and the second four-lane section runs from Yerevan to Ashtarak. Both have a 100-110 km/h speed limit and make up a total length of 31 km.
"Implementation of such a major construction project is a lengthy, costly and complicated process. We expect the construction to be over in 2019. When built the new highway will link the ports of the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea ports, as well as create new opportunities for use of our internal resources, " said Minasyan.
According to him, the implementation of a project of this magnitude may produce problems and risks, 'but the change of the contractor indicates that the government of Armenia is interested in a complete, timely and quality implementation of the project.'
Concerning a string of financial abuses that had been identified by an investigation Minasyan said all the perpetrators were punished, and all the misused funds had been recovered, but he refrained from unveiling any numbers.
The goal of North-South Transport Corridor project is to upgrade Armenia’s main corridor road as part of a broader thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade, growth and livelihood opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia sub-regions.
Funds are being released by the Asian Development Bank periodically through a multi-tranche financing facility. The transport corridor will stretch from the southern Armenian town of Meghri, on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border with Georgia. The North-South transport corridor will enable Armenia to mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Currently the construction of the road is underway from Artashat to Ashtarak and from Ashtarak to Talin. The Ministry of Transport and Communications plans also the implementation of separate smaller projects at various sections of the road in order to end the construction both in southern and northern directions by 2019. -0-
The first two sections of the transport corridor were inaugurated on December 29 last year. The first, six-lane section stretches from Yerevan to Artashat and the second four-lane section runs from Yerevan to Ashtarak. Both have a 100-110 km/h speed limit and make up a total length of 31 km.
"Implementation of such a major construction project is a lengthy, costly and complicated process. We expect the construction to be over in 2019. When built the new highway will link the ports of the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea ports, as well as create new opportunities for use of our internal resources, " said Minasyan.
According to him, the implementation of a project of this magnitude may produce problems and risks, 'but the change of the contractor indicates that the government of Armenia is interested in a complete, timely and quality implementation of the project.'
Concerning a string of financial abuses that had been identified by an investigation Minasyan said all the perpetrators were punished, and all the misused funds had been recovered, but he refrained from unveiling any numbers.
The goal of North-South Transport Corridor project is to upgrade Armenia’s main corridor road as part of a broader thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade, growth and livelihood opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia sub-regions.
Funds are being released by the Asian Development Bank periodically through a multi-tranche financing facility. The transport corridor will stretch from the southern Armenian town of Meghri, on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border with Georgia. The North-South transport corridor will enable Armenia to mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Currently the construction of the road is underway from Artashat to Ashtarak and from Ashtarak to Talin. The Ministry of Transport and Communications plans also the implementation of separate smaller projects at various sections of the road in order to end the construction both in southern and northern directions by 2019. -0-
