BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 27
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
It is possible to maximize transit in Iran by activating a number of corridors, Deputy Minister for Roads and Urban Development, and the CEO of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (RAI) Saeed Rasouli told ILNA, Trend reports.
According to him, the Caspian port in the Gilan Province (northern Iran) will soon be connected to Iran's railway line.
The deputy minister added that Iran may have a share in China's imports and exports of 4 billion-ton through the corridors through the east and west parts of the Caspian Sea.
"The Iranian railways was connected to Afghanistan via Khaf-Herat railway line over the last Iranian year (from March 20, 2020 through March 20, 2021). If this railway line connects to the Mazar-i-Sharif city of Afghanistan, it will be possible to create a new corridor through railways to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. Thus, cargo can be transported from Turkey and Europe to China and vice versa via Iran via," he said.
Rasouli noted that Iran has a railway line with Turkmenistan in the east part of the Caspian Sea. In this way, goods are exchanged between Iran and Turkmenistan, as well as between other CIS countries. Despite the spread of coronavirus pandemic last year, transit via the Sarakhs- Incheh Borun railway line increased by 29 percent, as well as exports – by 5 percent.
The deputy minister stressed Iran’s Amirabad port in the Caspian Sea was connected to the Iranian railway network. In addition, the Caspian port will soon be connected to the railway network.
The CEO also said that there is Iran's Astara railway terminal in the west of the Caspian Sea. Cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of railways continues through this terminal. At present, there is no 160 km long railway line betwee Rasht and Astara cities of Iran. According to this, the cargo is transported by trucks from Astara, to the Rasht.
"Iran's trade turnover with Turkey through railways also increased last year. So, more than 650,000 tons of cargo were transported last year. This is equivalent to the cargo transported via railways between the two countries for minimum 10 years," he noted.