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Weekly Lists
April 13, 2017 www.intellinews.com I Page 21
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Infrastructure
Tajikistan to launch $94.2mn road rehabilitation project in June
The first phase of the $94.2mn project to improve road connectivity between the Tajik cities of Dushanbe and Kurgonteppa will com- mence in June, Asia-Plus reported on April 11, citing Tajik officials.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $65.2mn in loan and grant financing for the project. Moreover, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has allocated $12mn for the road rehabilitation, whereas the Tajik government has provided the remaining $17mn.
Most of Tajikistan’s 27,000-kilometre road network was constructed prior to the 1970s and, as such, faces deteriorating conditions. The increase of road traffic in the country is intensifying pressure on the ageing transportation infrastructure. In addition, power outages during the winter season affect road safety in the country.
The Dushanbe-Kurgonteppa link is one of the most heavily traveled roads in the country and contributes to Central Asia Regional Eco- nomic Cooperation (CAREC) corridors 2, 5, and 6.
The Gurbulak-Bazargan border gate between Iran and Turkey has been upgraded to facilitate full truck traffic following an agreement between Tehran and Ankara to boost economic relations through direct border flows, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported
on April 9.
The border point is one of three now capable of taking truck traf- fic. The customs administrations of both countries invested in new border checkpoint technologies. It was opened by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildrim.
Located in Iran’s Yuksek Avai in Hakkari Province, the Gurbulak- Bazargan border crossing will become more active than in the past, Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said at the opening ceremony.
“Iran is among the countries we have the most export-import exchanges with and such crossings facilitate economic ties,” he added.
Iran, Turkey expand operations at third border gate