Armenia and Iran railroad work to begin by 2010

SteelGuru, India
Dec 30 2009

Armenia and Iran railroad work to begin by 2010

Iran Daily reported that 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.

Mr Gurgen Sargsyan transport and communications minister of Armenia
said that the Phase I of the project will involve a feasibility study,
scheduled to begin in April 2010.

"An agreement to grant a loan of USD 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."

The minister said that the project’s Phase I will be carried out in 2
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.

As per report the Armenian government has registered a corporation
titled "Directions for Iran and Armenian Railroad Construction to
implement the project.

Mr Sargsyan noted that Iran has demonstrated its readiness to finance
the project.

(Sourced from Iran Daily)