Tehran, Iran, Dec. 22
Trend:
Iran's Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Khatibi elaborated on recent improvement in the Qazvin-Rasht railway project in an interview with Trend.
"The Qazvin-Rasht trial run was opened long ago and the trial train started to operate. During the past month, the operation continued, while the remaining programs are in the process."
"The majority of the ministry's time is spent for completion of these projects in proper time," he said.
Referring to the latest progress in the Rasht-Anzali railway, he said, "The line should be operated by a contractor company. The 40 kilometers long railroad is operating, except the final four kilometers of the track. There are small problems in funding and land possession, but the work continues. It is expected that Azerbaijan will partly fund the Rasht-Astara railroad project."
The official noted Iran's other railway projects with neighbors: the Khaf-Herat railway project linking Iran to Afghanistan.
"The railway is 135 kilometers long, while 75 kilometers of the route run in Iran. The work is complete, while currently there are some flaws that are being reviewed," he said.
"Meanwhile, 60 kilometers of the railway are outside Iran. Only 30 kilometers remain to be finished," he added.
"The Khaf-Herat railway project is funded on two sections: the domestic section via public budget and the cross-border (foreign) section as part of Iran's commitment to Afghanistan's development," he said.