Turkmenistan, Afghanistan discuss construction of Akina-Andkhoy, Turgundi-Herat railways
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 22
By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:
Turkmenistan and Afghanistan have reviewed the implementation of projects for the construction of Akina-Andkhoy and Turgundi-Herat railways, Trend reports, citing Turkmenistan’s State News Agency.
The discussions were held during a videoconference between representatives of the Agency Türkmendemirýollary (Turkmen Railways) of Turkmenistan and the Afghanistan Railway of the Ministry of Transport of Afghanistan.
Speaking about the Akina-Andkhoy railway, the sides noted that there are plans to extend it to the border with Tajikistan with further access to the states of the Asia-Pacific region. This will open up new opportunities for enhancing interstate trade and economic relations, including by connecting to the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey transport corridor (Lapis Lazuli).
The contract for the construction of the Akina-Andkhoy railway with a length of 30 kilometers was signed in September 2019.
The participants also discussed in detail issues related to the exploration, design, and construction of the Turgundi-Herat railway, as well as the preparation of their feasibility study and financing.
The length of the new railway will be 173 kilometers. Along the road, it is planned to build 4 railway stations, communication and notification systems, apron, and other structures.
Negotiations on granting long-term credit facilities are conducted with international financial organizations, including the Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
The work is being carried out in accordance with a memorandum signed in June last year.
The parties expressed their belief that as new logistics routes are connected to them, their role as important links in the international transport corridor stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Indian Ocean will increase.
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