Zurab Nogaideli, Georgian Prime-Minister held negotiations on the issue of the implementation of the project on opening the railway communication Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku in Baku today, a source in the Azerbaijan Cabinet of Ministers informed Trend.
A feasibility study of the project is expected to be prepared in January, 2007. In May, 2007, Georgia is expected to directly build and rehabilitate the project. The issue on a credit for the project will also be solved in the first quarter of 2007.
The funds are expected to be spent on carrying out works on two sections of the railway on the Georgian territory. Rehabilitation of one of the section is expected to be carried out in the second quarter of 2007. The second section is expected to be built.
Mainly goods from Kazakhstan, China, and Russia are expected to be carried via this transport corridor. During the meeting held in Kazakhstan at a ministerial level in August, 2006, the Kazakhstan party took an obligation upon itself that it will carry at lest 10 mln. tons via the railway.
The project on constructing transport railway corridor Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku includes the construction of railway line Kars-Akhalkalaki with the length of 98 km. 56 km out of it will be on the Turkish territory and 30 km on the territory of Georgia. Some reconstruction work is needed on railway section Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi. The average value of the project is estimated at $400 mln.