Minister: Armenia to start searching funds for construction of Iran-Armenia railway
24.12.2008,
01:57
Armenia is to embark on searching for funds for construction of Iran-Armenia railway, Armenian Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said at a press conference on Tuesday.
YEREVAN, December 23. /ARKA/. Armenia is to embark on searching for funds for construction of Iran-Armenia railway, Armenian Transport and Communication Minister Gurgen Sargsyan said at a press conference on Tuesday.
He said that Armenian Government views the construction of this railway among its top-priority focuses.
“This idea has already developed into a program, and we’ll keep negotiating over technical aspect and scheme and searching for financial sources in 2009”, the minister said.
Preliminary assessment showed that the construction would cost $2 billion.
World Bank and Asian Development Bank express interest in the project.
One route, Jermuk-Meghri, has already been outlined. Other routes are under discussion now, though it is expected that the railway will include also Sisian and Kapan.
About 100 kilometers of the railway are expected to be laid on Iran’s territory – from Armenian border to Merand railway station.
Specialists say such a work takes five to six years.
Yerevan-Yeraskh-Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan)-Meghri, the soviet-era railway connecting Armenia and Iran, stays dilapidated and dysfunctional now.
The new rout will go only through Armenia’s territory.
The railway will provide an alternative way to Armenia for shipping energy resources and other commodities.
Now Armenia transports its cargoes through Georgia. .-0---
He said that Armenian Government views the construction of this railway among its top-priority focuses.
“This idea has already developed into a program, and we’ll keep negotiating over technical aspect and scheme and searching for financial sources in 2009”, the minister said.
Preliminary assessment showed that the construction would cost $2 billion.
World Bank and Asian Development Bank express interest in the project.
One route, Jermuk-Meghri, has already been outlined. Other routes are under discussion now, though it is expected that the railway will include also Sisian and Kapan.
About 100 kilometers of the railway are expected to be laid on Iran’s territory – from Armenian border to Merand railway station.
Specialists say such a work takes five to six years.
Yerevan-Yeraskh-Nakhichevan (Azerbaijan)-Meghri, the soviet-era railway connecting Armenia and Iran, stays dilapidated and dysfunctional now.
The new rout will go only through Armenia’s territory.
The railway will provide an alternative way to Armenia for shipping energy resources and other commodities.
Now Armenia transports its cargoes through Georgia. .-0---
