Rasht-Caspian Railway to Be Inaugurated by Yearend
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s third mega railway project, the Rasht-Caspian Railway, will be inaugurated by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (to end on March 20, 2024).
The Rasht-Caspian rail corridor is important for the transit of cargo from the north to the southern parts of the country.
The construction operation of this giant railway project started in 2006 but its physical progress was negligible from 2006 to 2019.
The Rasht-Caspian Railway is a part of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Upon the completion of the project, the Persian Gulf will be connected to the Caspian Sea by rail.
Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development for Construction and Development of Railways, Ports and Airports Affairs Abbas Khatibi said the 37km railway project will be inaugurated before the current Iranian calendar year ends.
He put the current physical progress of this project at 86 percent, Mehr news agency reported.
The Rasht-Caspian railway line is a continuation of the Qazvin-Rasht railway.
It will provide the possibility of transiting and transporting cargo from Russia and other neighboring countries of the Caspian Sea, Khatibi said.
The launch of the Rasht-Caspian Railway will significantly boost the trade volume of the country, the Middle East, Central Asia and Eurasia, he added.