Baku, Tehran sign protocol of intent for railway construction to Nakhchivan via Iran

A new railway line will be built from Eastern Zangazur to Nakhchivan through Iranian territory.

A corresponding document was signed on October 6 in Baku at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister, Co-Chairman of the State Commission for Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran in the Economic, Trade, and Humanitarian Spheres Shahin Mustafayev and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Co-Chairman of the Commission on the Iranian side Mehrdad Bazrpash, Report informs.

The parties expressed satisfaction with the October 6 foundation-laying ceremony in the village of Agband, Zangilan District, the start of related construction work, and the discussion of plans for the construction of new railway lines and bridges.

At the meeting with the participation of delegations of the two countries, current issues on the bilateral agenda in the field of transport and communications, and the use of energy and water resources between Azerbaijan and Iran were discussed.

The parties noted the importance of increasing the transit attractiveness of the region, emphasized the need to take urgent measures in connection with the construction of access roads to the bridge built on Astarachay, which is an important component of the North-South corridor, and the creation of border and customs infrastructure.

In addition, government agencies were given appropriate tasks to complete the construction of the Astara cargo terminal as quickly as possible.

The meeting also noted the importance of accelerating work in order to quickly complete the projects for the construction of hydroelectric complexes and hydroelectric power stations at Khudafarin, Giz Galasi (Maiden Tower), and Ordubad-Marazad.

As a result of the meeting, a “Protocol of intent for the construction of a new railway line and railway bridges between the Eastern Zangazur economic region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran” and “Protocol of the meeting of the co-chairs of the joint working group on the construction of a road border bridge and a pedestrian bridge” crossing the Araz River at the checkpoints of the Azerbaijani-Iranian state border Agband (Azerbaijan Republic) - Kalala (Islamic Republic of Iran) were signed.