Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 20 / Trend E. Ismailov /
Construction works within the creation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, designed to connect the railway systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, are underway in accordance with the schedule, a source in the JSC Azerbaijan Railways said on Monday.
According to him, at present, construction works are carried out both on Georgia's territory and on Georgia's border with Turkey.
"Intensive construction works are underway, both on Georgia's territory and on Georgia's border with Turkey. By the end of this month, works will be conducted in accordance with the schedule, but later with worsening of the weather conditions, they may be suspended," the source said.
Stopping the construction works within this project is seasonal, due to the fact that most of the works are carried out in the mountain area, and as a result of the worsening of the weather conditions conducting works becomes impossible.
Also, according to the source, at present, issues of additional funding for carrying out works on the Georgian section of the railway is under consideration.
The Azerbaijani government is willing to provide an extra $500 million to finance the construction of the Georgian section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, an Azerbaijan Railways source told Trend earlier. Earlier Azerbaijan has allocated a $200-million loan from the State Oil Fund of the Azerbaijan Republic for the construction of the Georgian section. The loan covers 25 year on an annual rate in one percent.
A new 105-kilometer railroad branch will be constructed as a part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway. About 76 kilometers will stretch via Turkey, 29 kilometers through Georgia. Moreover, an Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Marabda railway section will be reconstructed in Georgia to increase transport capacity up to 15 million tons of cargo a year. A point of train transition from the existing train tracks in Georgia to the European one is planned to be built in Akhalkalaki.
The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, which will connect the railway systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, will be completed in the first half of 2012, Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov told Trend earlier.
The corridor's peak capacity will hit 17 million tons. Initially, its capacity will reach 1 million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo.