BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 8. Iran's government has set a goal to complete the construction of the Ardabil-Miyaneh railway line located in the northwestern part of the country, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said during a meeting with provincial officials in Ardabil Province on July 7, Trend reports.
According to him, this railway line is planned to be completed this year (from March 21, 2025, through March 20, 2026).
In reference to the fiscal allocation for the railway
infrastructure project, the Director of the Ardabil Provincial
Department of the Iranian Planning and Budget Organization, Davud
Shayeghi, articulated that the government has earmarked a
comprehensive sum of 12 trillion rials (approximately $19.9
million) for the development of the Ardabil-Miyaneh railway
corridor. To date, a cumulative expenditure of 7.9 trillion rials
(approximately $13 million) has been allocated for the execution of
the construction operations. The residual capital—4.1 trillion
rials (approximately $6.8 million)—is anticipated to be disbursed
imminently.
It is pertinent to highlight that the inception of the railway
infrastructure project connecting the Iranian urban centers of
Ardabil and Miyaneh commenced in the year 2005. This 175-kilometer
linear infrastructure project is currently under development,
segmented into 11 distinct phases of construction. Approximately 35
percent of the railway corridor traverses rugged topography. Upon
the activation of this railway corridor, it is anticipated that an
aggregate of 2.5 million tons of freight and 600,000 individuals
will be conveyed within the inaugural year. Forecasts indicate that
in two decades, this rail infrastructure will possess the capacity
to facilitate the transit of 4 million tons of freight and
accommodate 1.5 million travelers on an annual basis.
Iran regards the culmination of this railway project as a critical
component for its economic optimization and transit facilitation
strategies.
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