Tehran, Iran, June 21
By A. Shirazi - Trend:
The Iranian energy minister said the country’s firms will soon start the construction of the second phase of a major tunnel in Tajikistan.
“The construction of the second phase of Tajikistan’s Istiqlol Tunnel (also Anzob Tunnel or Ushtur Tunnel) will kick off soon with the help of Iranian firms,” Reza Ardakanian, who is currently in Dushanbe to attend an international water conference, said on June 21, IRIB news agency reported.
He added that Iranian and Tajik firms can exchange knowledge, that the Central Asian country’s companies can use Iran experience in tunnel construction and road development.
He made the remarks in a meeting with Tajikistan’s Transport Minister Khodayar Khodayarzade.
The Tajik energy minister, for his part, expressed satisfaction with performance of Iranian firms active in the country’s road and tunnel development projects, welcoming the presence of the firms for the construction of the tunnel in its second phase.
The Istiqlol tunnel is a 5,040 m long tunnel located 80 km northwest of Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe. The tunnel is part of the M34 highway and connects the Tajik capital to the country's second-largest city, Khujand. The tunnel was opened in 2006 despite being only partially finished and it quickly gained a reputation as being one of the world's most dangerous tunnels.
In 2014 Iran's government signed an agreement to finish the tunnel and the tunnel was reopened in late 2015. The tunnel saves drivers at least 4 hours when traveling between Dushanbe and Khujand and allows travelers to avoid having to pass through Uzbekistan.
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