ARMENIA-IRAN RAILROAD LAUNCH NEXT YEAR
Iran Daily
Dec 28 2009
Armenia is set to begin work early next year on a large-scale project
aimed at connecting Armenia and Iran through a north-south railroad,
according to Armenia’s Transport and Communications Minister Gurgen
Sargsyan.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Sargsyan said the first
phase of the project will involve a feasibility study, scheduled to
begin in April 2010, Asbarez.com reported.
"An agreement to grant a loan of $1 million has been reached with
the Asian Development Bank for implementing the feasibility study of
this project. An international tender for the provision of consulting
services will be declared in early 2010 and we will begin the direct
implementation of the feasibility study in spring," he said.
The minister said the project’s first phase will be carried out in
two stages.
The first will study whether the Yerevan-Ararat and Yerevan-Ashtarak
passes are safe for rail travel; the second will begin work on
restoring the Ashtarak-Gumri rail section; and the third stage
envisages construction of a new Goris-Kapan railroad.
The Armenian government has registered a corporation titled "Directions
for Iran-Armenian Railroad Construction" to implement the project.
Sargsyan noted that Iran has demonstrated its readiness to finance
the project.