Construction to start on Turkish section of Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway
By M. Alkhazashvili
Tuesday, May 27
Construction will begin on the Turkish section of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway on June 12.
The section is 76 kilometers in length and will be built at a cost of over USD 200 million. It is due to be completed by the end of 2009, the same time a rail tunnel under the Bosphorous is due for completion.
Construction of a 29-kilometer section of the railway in Georgia is scheduled for completion in October 2009. Georgia is also rehabilitating a 183-kilometer part of the Akhalkalaki-Marabda-Tbilisi line as part of the project.
While inaugurating the project last year, President Mikheil Saakashvili said it would be a “window to Europe” after Georgia lost control of the rail connection to Russia and beyond which runs through secessionist Abkhazia.
The section is 76 kilometers in length and will be built at a cost of over USD 200 million. It is due to be completed by the end of 2009, the same time a rail tunnel under the Bosphorous is due for completion.
Construction of a 29-kilometer section of the railway in Georgia is scheduled for completion in October 2009. Georgia is also rehabilitating a 183-kilometer part of the Akhalkalaki-Marabda-Tbilisi line as part of the project.
While inaugurating the project last year, President Mikheil Saakashvili said it would be a “window to Europe” after Georgia lost control of the rail connection to Russia and beyond which runs through secessionist Abkhazia.