Uzbekistan, Tashkent, May 23 / Trend D.Azizov /
Uzbekistan in 2012 will begin reconstruction of a section of Tashkent - Osh road, passing through the Kamchik pass and connecting the center of the country with the Ferghana Valley, the head of the project implementation unit (PIU) for the development of regional roads of the Republican Road Fund of Uzbekistan, Sherzod Yakubov, told reporters on Wednesday.
"In June, a contractor will be named to carry out road construction works on the section of the Tashkent - Osh road (A-373), and in July reconstruction will begin," Yakubov said.
As previously reported, last year the Republican Road Fund under the Ministry of Finance of Uzbekistan announced a tender for reconstruction of the 74-kilometer section of highway (from 116 to 190 km) with the replacement of two-lane asphalt pavement with a four-lane cement and concrete pavement.
The project worth $211 million will be funded through a loan of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the amount of $130 million from funds of the Bank's second multitranche loan in the amount of $500 million.
The Road Fund will allocate $81 million for the project.
As previously reported, in April 2010, ADB approved the first multitranche loan at $600 million for the construction of national highway in Uzbekistan, in August 2011 - second multitranche financing program for the same purpose in the amount of $500 million.
The multitranche financing program is provided within the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation's (CAREC) program "Development of regional roads. Phase 2".
ADB funds under this program will be allocated in three tranches during 2011-2013. Funds in the amount of $320 million will be allocated out of the ordinary resources of the bank, a loan for $180 million will be provided from the Asian Development Fund.
ADB funds will be directed at reconstruction of individual sections of Guzar - Bukhara - Nukus - Beineu (A-380) and Tashkent - Osh (A-373) roads with a total length of about 230 kilometers.
The first tranche of $130 million was provided for 24 years, including a four-year grace period.
Earlier it was reported that Uzbekistan refused to transport goods to the Ferghana Valley by train through the territory of Tajikistan. Since January 2010 the carriage of cargo to the region has been carried out via A-373 road, which is of strategic importance for the country.
Financing of the construction, designed for 2011 - 2015 years, is carried out by the Republican Road Fund - $1.79 billion, the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan - $ 68 million, loans of international financial institutions - $1, 432 billion.
In total, in 2011-2015 Uzbekistan plans to direct for the development of road transport system $3.29 billion, including from the Republican Road Fund - $1.79 billion, international financial institutions - $1.432 billion, Fund for reconstruction and development of Uzbekistan - $68 million.
The share of road transport in Uzbekistan accounts for 87.6 per cent of freight and 98.1 per cent of passenger traffic.
The total length of highways is 183,600 kilometers. Some 20 international transport routes and directions cross the territory of Uzbekistan now.