BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 15
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
The Rasht-Astara railway line in Gilan Province (northern Iran) is one of the most important railway projects in the North-South Corridor, Former Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pakayin said, Trend reports.
According to Pakayin, with the connection of the Iranian railway to Azerbaijan, the North-South corridor will become a reality and will be a major turning point in Iran's railway transit.
“The construction and launch of the 164-kilometer Rasht-Astara railway line will create direct railway connections from the Persian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent to Russia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and European countries, and increase trade with the Caspian littoral states,” he added.
The ex-ambassador also noted that in the first year of its operation, the railway will carry about 3 million tons of cargo and 200,000 passengers, and in subsequent years, 4 million tons of cargo and 500,000 passengers a year.
“Meanwhile, in the future, international companies will be interested in using this railway. Because in terms of time and cost, this railway will be a more profitable option,” Pakayin said.
According to him, the Rasht-Astara railway will play an important role in increasing regional and international trade, transit of goods and passenger transportation. Thus, along with Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia will soon have access to the Persian Gulf and international waters and will be able to reduce costs.
The former ambassador stressed that at present, India and European countries can transit millions of tons of goods to Caucasus in 60 days. With the improvement of the North-South Corridor, this period will be reduced by 10-14 days.
Pakayin said that the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway line can be an indicator of mutual trust between Azerbaijan and Iran.
"It is hoped that the with the assistance of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, will put on its agenda the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway within the North-South corridor and improve this project as soon as possible," he said.
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