BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 30. Iran has acquired 50 percent of the land and is accelerating the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway line as part of the North-South International Transport Corridor, Mohammad Pardelnejad, an official of Iran’s Construction and Development Company of Transport Infrastructures in Gilan Province, told reporters, Trend reports.
Pardelnejad noted that the total length of the railway line is 160 kilometers, running mainly through rice-growing areas, with no significant environmental or ecological concerns. Pardelnejad added that around 40 kilometers of the line are planned as bridges, although studies suggest the total length of bridges may reach 80 kilometers.
The official said that two high-voltage power lines cross the railway route, and adjustments have been coordinated with the Energy Ministry.
"Currently, 10-15 percent of the physical construction work has been completed. While the project is planned to be finished within 48 months, its continuation depends on timely funding," he stated.
Pardelnejad emphasized that the Rasht-Astara railway is a key project connecting southern Iran with Russia and Northern Europe within the North-South Corridor, potentially reducing transit time and costs for goods transported from India to Europe by up to 40 percent.
The purchase of land along the railway route is expected to cost 60 trillion rials (about $104 million).
To note, the intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia, Iran, and India on September 12, 2000, laid the foundation for the North-South Transport Corridor. In general, several countries have ratified the said agreement. (Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Bulgaria, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Sultanate of Oman, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Türkiye, Ukraine). The purpose of establishing the corridor is to reduce the delivery time of cargo traveling from India to Russia, as well as to Northern and Western Europe (the delivery time along the existing route is more than six weeks; it is expected to be three weeks via North-South).
The Gazvin-Rasht railroad, stretching 175 km, hit the ground running on March 6, 2019, linking Azerbaijan's railroads with Iran's railway network in the corridor. The Rasht-Astara railroad is set to take shape on Iranian soil.
The North-South Corridor has three directions within Iran. The eastern direction is Turkmenistan and Central Asian countries; the middle direction is Russia and other countries across the Caspian Sea; and the western direction is Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Eastern European countries.
Russia and Iran signed an agreement on May 17, 2023, to build the Rasht-Astara railroad in Gilan province in northern Iran. Nine stations will be built on the Rasht-Astara railroad line, which is about 163 kilometers long. With the completion of this railroad, the North-South international corridor will be improved, and Iran's railroad network will be integrated with Caucasus countries, Russia, and Northern European countries. According to the agreement, the Russian side is expected to spend 1.6 billion euros for the construction of this railroad. This railroad will be built and completed within 48 months.
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