Baku, Azerbaijan, June 13
Trend:
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway construction is under completion, Javid Gurbanov, head of Azerbaijan Railways JSC, said in an interview with ANS TV channel.
As for the construction delay, Gurbanov said that there is too much unforeseen work, additional costs.
"The work is being conducted in difficult climatic conditions," he said. "In fact, the work has been completed in Georgia."
Gurbanov also said that the work has been completed in Turkey by 80 percent.
"The railway will stretch 85 kilometers on the territory of Turkey and this is not a big problem for the country," he said. "The rest work is likely to be finished by late 2016 and we will be able to transport the cargo by diesel locomotives."
Gurbanov stressed that he intends to hold a meeting in connection with the project with Turkish Minister of Transport, Shipping and Communications Ahmet Arslan.
While commenting on the Great Silk Road project, Gurbanov stressed that while crossing the territory of Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, this route is expanding the way to Europe.
"The Europe-China trade turnover hits about 100 million tons," he said. "But this index will increase."
Gurbanov also added that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will intensify this route.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is being constructed on the basis of the Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement.
Azerbaijan has allocated a $775-million loan for the construction of the railway's Georgian section.
The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) finances the project in accordance with the Azerbaijani president's decree 'On implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project activities', dated February 21, 2007.