Shalamcheh-Basra Railway Construction to Kick Off in Coming Weeks: Iran Roads Minister
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian minister of roads and urban development said the construction operation of Shalamcheh-Basra Railway will begin after the fasting month of Ramadan, adding that the rail line and “Shatt al-Arab” mobile bridge will be constructed within 18 months.
Mehrdad Bazrpash made the remarks on Thursday in his meeting with Iraqi Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi, stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran has put considerable projects in the transport field on the agenda for the expansion of bilateral cooperation due to its vicinity with neighboring Iraq and common borders with the Arab country.
The Shamamcheh-Basra Railway is a giant project which had been stalled for years.
Since this region had been mined from Shamamcheh and also from the beginning of Iraqi soil during the Iraqi imposed war against Iran (1980-1988), Iran would demine the land en route of this railway after the holy month of Ramadan, Bazrpash added.
The Iranian and Iraqi officials also agreed to draw up the comprehensive transport cooperation roadmap in various rail, road, and sea sectors, he noted.
Dredging sunk ships and carrying out other required dredging operations were among the other topics discussed by the two sides and it was agreed that this issue would be pursued by a joint committee.
Iran shares four common border crossings with neighboring Iraq, namely Mehran, Chazabeh, Shalamcheh and Khosravi.
