Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Jan. 16 / Trend H. Hasanov /
The construction of a new railway "bridge" between Europe and Asia is underway, Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.
It deals with the North-South highway that would link Turkmenistan (the longest section will stretch through its territory) with Iran and Kazakhstan. It will be completed by the 20th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence, that is, October 27, 2011.
"Realization of this important transportation project will provide new opportunities for international transportation between Europe and Asia," the article said.
According to the preliminary calculations, the annual volume of own and transit cargo will reach 10-12 million tons. Moreover, this corridor will be 600 kilometers shorter than the existing entrance through Beyneu-Turkmenabat-Sarakhs.
Turkmen pipeline builders are working intensively and. They have laid more than 360 kilometers of track from the Bereket station to the north - to the border of Kazakhstan.
At present, the work is carried out on the southern Turkmen section of North-South highway, which will stretch along the western ridges of Kopetdag from Bereket to etrap Etrek center on the border between Turkmenistan and Iran.
The length of this segment of the main way is over 256 kilometers and 68.5 kilometers of the station road.
Over a hundred different plants will be built there.