Iran needs $3B annually to expand roads network

Baku, Azerbaijan, June 1‫6

By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran needs $3 billion annually to expand its roads network, said Meghdad Rahimian, an official with the Iranian Roads and Urban Development Ministry.

To expand main and secondary roads, as well as highways and freeways, over $3 billion should be invested per year, Iran 's IRNA news agency quoted Rahimian as saying June 16.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC) meeting, which was held in Tehran.

Representatives from Spain, Italy, and Austria participated in the meeting.

The total length of roads across the country is currently 2,365 kilometers, which should be increased to 10,000 kilometers by 2025, he said.

Currently, the private sector holds a 70 percent share of investment in road building projects, while the government has the responsibility to purchase and free up necessary land.

Highways in the country are 14,541 kilometers long, he said, adding that it should be expanded to 30,000 kilometers. In other word, 700 kilometers of freeways and 1400 kilometers of highways should be built per year.

Edited by CN