Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 29 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
Kazakhstan and China show great interest in the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, Azerbaijani Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov told journalists in Tbilisi.
According to him, now Kazakhstan is ready to transport on the railway10 million tons of cargo per year, after the railway launched.
"These interests give us opportunity to predict development of the transport infrastructure and it has great promise, as the railway links Europe and Asia," he added.
Mammadov stressed that the implementation of this project goes beyond the region, bring economic benefits and provides new jobs.
The total project cost is estimated at about $400 million. Azerbaijan has allocated a loan of $200 million to Georgia for the construction of the project.
A new 105-kilometer-branch of railway is planned to be constructed within the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project; 76 kilometers will stretch through Turkey and 29 kilometers through Georgia. Moreover, a 183-kilometer section of railways - Akhalkalaki-Marabda-Tbilisi - will be reconstructed in Georgia to increase capacity to up to 15 million tons of freight per year. A train transition station, changing trains from the existing tracks in Georgia to European tracks is planned to be constructed in Akhalkalaki.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at: [email protected]