BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
The Mazari Sharif - Kabul - Peshawar railway will connect the European Union, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and further the states of Southeast Asia, Trend reports citing the press service of the Institute for Forecasting and Macroeconomic Research Under the Office of Ministers of Uzbekistan (IFMR).
IFMR and Uzbekistan Railways named the advantages of the new Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar (Trans-Afghan Railway) railway, which will provide Uzbekistan with access to the world ocean.
It is reported that the length of the projected railway is estimated at 573 kilometers. The preliminary cost of the project is about $4.8 billion. Depending on the choice of the route, the construction can be completed within 4-5 years.
According to experts, the forecasted volume of cargo transportation in the first years of operation will amount to four million tons with a further increase to seven million tons per year.
Studies have shown that the potential for transportation through Afghanistan is great, which indicates the need for its further development towards Pakistan and further to India.
Thus, in 2012-2020, the Galaba (Uzbekistan) - Mazar-i-Sharif (Afghanistan) railroad transported 26 million tons of cargo, or about 3.2 million tons annually.
It was noted that the new land transport corridor will connect the European Union, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and further the states of Southeast Asia.
In addition, the analysis showed the significant competitive advantages of the Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway construction project in comparison with the existing routes to the ports of Southeast Asia through the territory of Iran, namely, direct access to the Pakistani ports of Karachi and Gwadar, the output of Uzbekistan's goods to promising markets of Pakistan and India, which will create opportunities for the export of mineral fertilizers, food and industrial products.
Also, the transit of goods from India and Pakistan to the CIS countries and Europe and China through Uzbekistan will be provided and transport costs will be reduced.
The distance of transportation routes from Tashkent to the ports of countries and Southeast Asia through the port of Karachi is 661 kilometers shorter than through the currently operating port of Iran - Bandar Abbas, respectively. This is reflected in transport costs (according to calculations, the distance from Tashkent to the port of Mumbai through the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas is 4,249 kilometers, and through the Pakistani port of Karachi – 3,588 kilometers).
Another inconvenient factor is economic sanctions against Iran, which restrict transportation through Iranian territory. The Tashguzar-Boysun-Kumkurgan railway line will be actively used by increasing the transit flow along this route, and the existing road between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul will greatly facilitate the construction of the railway roads.
Furthermore, the construction of the Surkhan - Puli Khumri and CASA -1000 transmission lines along the route will help reduce costs at the stages of construction and operation of the railway due to its electrification.
According to experts from IFMR and Uzbekistan Railways, the effectiveness of the trans-regional project can significantly increase if it is implemented simultaneously with the project for the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and will lead to a significant increase in the volume of transit from China to the countries of Central and South Asia and vice versa.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @romakayeva