Iran, Azerbaijan Agree to Construct Aras Road Corridor: Deputy Roads Minister
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s deputy minister of roads and urban development said that Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have agreed to construct the Aras road transport corridor.
Speaking in a news conference, Shahriar Afandizadeh pointed to the signing of a contract between Iran and Russia for the construction operation of the Rasht-Astara Railway and stated that the 162-km railway will be constructed through the financing scheme by the Russian side.
He put the amount of the contract for constructing the corridor at €1.6 billion and stated that the required equipment including locomotive and wagon will be provided up to the ceiling of the contract.
Regarding the renovation of the road, rail and air transport fleet, Azandizadeh noted that a committee has been set up at the Ministry of Road to follow up the case.
Earlier, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash said that with the appointment of the contractor company, the process of construction of the Aras corridor has started.
This process will be carried out within the framework of the construction of a bridge over the Araz River and the expansion of the highway.
The Aras road corridor will connect the Eastern Zangazur economic region of Azerbaijan to the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic by passing through Iran’s territory.