Page 47 - GEORptFeb22

9.1.2 Transport sector news
Georgia awards $150mn contracts for first section of Kakheti Highway towards Azerbaijan
The main 31.5km section of the 35.2km Tbilisi-Sagarejo segment of the Kakheti Highway (S5), aimed to eventually link Tbilisi with Georgia’s border with Azerbaijan, will be built by Chinese China Road and Bridge Corporation and a consortium of Turkish companies (Gocay Insaat Taahhut ve Ticaret and Macro Construction) for GEL463.3mn ($150mn), according to the outcome of the tender announced by the Georgian authorities on November 23.
The price for this section was initially estimated at GEL575mn.
The 35.2km Tbilisi-Sagarejo segment of Kakheti Highway offers access to the historic David Gareja monastery complex on the border with Azerbaijan, but it continues eastwards to Tsnori and Lagodekhi on the border with Azerbaijan. The construction of the 35.2km Tbilisi-Sagarejo segment of Kakheti Highway (S5) also includes a 3.7km section consisting of the Tbilisi-Vaziani bypass road, to be built by Georgian construction company New Road Ltd. for a price of GEL64 ($20mn). The contract was awarded in October.
The 31.5km section is divided into two lots, namely the 23.8km Vaziani-Sagarejo section to be built at a price of GEL383.8mn by China Road and Bridge Corporation and a smaller 7.66km lot consisting of the Sagarejo bypass road awarded for a price of GEL191.5mn to the Turkish consortium. million GEL. Construction of the first lot should be completed in 30 months, while the second lot should be completed in 24 months.
Contracts with winning companies will be signed in the near future. Until then, they must deposit the tender guarantee funds in favour of the state. A total of nine companies participated in the tender.
China Road and Bridge Corporation is one of the largest contractors in the Government of Georgia. A contract worth GEL901mn was signed with the company in 2018, which envisages the construction of a 13km high-speed highway, the Rikoti Ubisa-Shorapani road. The project is financed by a loan EIB loan and it envisages the construction of 18 tunnels and 27 bridges.
The company said in a management report that due to the continuation of the design phase of this road, it is likely that its construction will be completed in 2022.
9.1.3 Aviation sector news
Georgia restores 57% of pre-crisis flights
Compared to 2019, 58% of airlines serving Georgia have resumed operations and the frequency of flights to and from the country has been restored to 57%, first deputy head of the National Tourism Administration Tamar Koriauli said in an interview given to Palitra radio station.
Georgia's land borders were reopened to visitors as of June 1.
According to Koriauli, Georgia has already received guests from 54 countries since the reopening. All the visitors were required to show they had passed a PCR test for coronavirus. Citizens and residents of 54 countries are presently permitted to travel to Georgia
“We are one of the first [countries] to open the border to vaccinated visitors. It is important for the recovery of tourism. It is also gratifying that, compared to 2019 data, 58% of airlines have resumed operations. The [flights] frequency has been restored by 57%," Koriauli said.
Asked whether the removal of the country's curfew was being considered, Koryali said that “benefits are being considered for vaccinated guests”, implying that they might not be subject to same restrictions as the general population.
47 GEORGIA Country Report February 2022 www.intellinews.com