Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway’s construction continues according to schedule

Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways, Arif Askerov, said work on the completion of construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway's junction continues according to schedule.

"The first and second phases of the railway's construction have already been completed, and at the moment work is being carried out as part of the third phase. The construction of a 4.3 km long tunnel between Georgia and Turkey is also continuing," Askerov said.

He went on to add that the work on the Turkish section of the railway is completed at a distance of 2.2 km, and excavation work is being conducted on the railway's Georgian section at a distance of 200 meters. He said the railway will be commissioned in 2014.

Azerbaijan has allocated a $775 million preferential loan to Georgia for the construction and reconstruction of the Georgian section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

Tranche A, worth $200 million, has been allocated for 25 years at one per cent rate annually (has been covering works on project since 2007), and tranche B, worth $575 million has been allocated for 25 years at five per cent rate annually.

The need in allocation of tranche B was due to the increase in prices of construction and raw materials, revaluation of Marabda-Kartsakhi branch railway's current condition, conducting works in unfavourable weather conditions and others.

It is expected that annually 30 million tons of cargos will be transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which will have a direct access to the European railway network.

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will increase the flow of containerized, bulked and other types of cargos from Asia to Europe. The realization of the Marmaris project on construction of a tunnel under Bosporus strait will be completed by this time. This will allow establishing a railway communication with Europe. (Trend)