Astana, Kazakhstan, Feb.6
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
The Interstate Commission of the three countries (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran) should determine the size of tariffs for the transportation of goods by Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan - Iran railway during 2015, the Iranian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Mojtaba Damirchilu told Trend Feb.6.
"In fact, the Iranian section of the road is technically ready for operation," said Damirchilu. "However, in order for the flow of goods to become regular, additional work on improvement of the railway station and the installation of traffic signs is required."
He said that the first batch of grain in the amount of 633 metric tons arrived from Kazakhstan in Iran at the Inceburun station a few days ago.
In addition, the three countries need to coordinate issues about the size of tariffs, export taxes so that the trains could run continuously between the three countries, he said.
"These issues are handled by the Interstate Commission, about the establishment of which the leaders of the three countries were talking during the opening ceremony of the road in December 2014," said the Iranian diplomat. "This year, the discussion of all these issues should be completed."
Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan - Iran railway is a part of the International North - South Transport Corridor. Its other name is the Eastern North - South Route.
The railroad created additional routes linking Kazakhstan and central regions of Russia with Turkmenistan, Iran, Gulf countries, South and South-East Asia and can increase transit cargo and passenger traffic, reduces transport costs, saves time, travel and leads to economic growth in the regions through which the road passes, due to the increase of traffic and accessibility of rural areas.
In 2007, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran signed a tripartite intergovernmental agreement on construction of Zhanaozen - Gyzylgaya - Bereket - Etrek - Gorgan line, which was further followed by commissioning of Russian railways, which will reduce the route by 600 kilometers.
In 2009, the countries started the construction. The opening ceremony of the North - South railway took place with the participation of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on December 3, 2014.
