Azerbaijan, Baku, July 17/Trend M. Moezzi
The Iranian government aims to transport 18 per cent of the country's travellers by rail and establish connections with all of its neighbours in the region.
Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Ali Nikzad, spoke of the government's plans at ceremonies inaugurating a specialised locomotive factory, Mehr news agency reports.
Mr. Nikzad added that his ministry is in various stages of building 12,482 kilometres of railways in Iran. Other projects mentioned include the near completion of the country's biggest rail tunnel. The 10 kilometre long tunnel will have four lines and is situated in south-western Tehran.
The roads ministry's biggest project is establishing points of connection with all of Iran's neighbours including Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, India, the Republic of Azerbaijan, and South-east Asia, according to Iran's top transportation official.
Finally, Mr. Nikzad said the Iran Power Plant Projects Management Company (MAPNA) has a €480 million contract to build the Roads Ministry 150 passenger locomotives. That project's first phase will employ 300 people and its second phase will add 750 employees.