Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 4 /Trend D.Azizov/
Uzbekistan plans to begin the construction of the Angren - Dad railway, which will connect the Ferghana Valley with the central part of the country through the Kamchik pass, a source in government circles told Trend on Tuesday.
The railway line has a length of 129 kilometers and will connect three areas in the east (Andijan, Namangan and Ferghana) with the rest of Uzbekistan. The project includes the construction of two tunnels.
The preliminary cost of the project is $1.9 billion. Funding will be provided by the state budget, the resources of Uzbekistan Railways and loans from international financial institutions. A feasibility study will be completed by the end of 2013.
The Kamchik Pass is located on the crest of the Kurama ridge at 1.2 thousand meters above sea level. The only highway between Tashkent and Osh (A-373) which also connects Tashkent region with the Pap district of Namangan region passes through the Kamchik.
The highway, which is of strategic importance, is periodically closed in the winter because of danger from avalanches.