Construction of Resht-Astara rail line in Iran to be completed in five years

The construction project of the Resht-Astara railway, which will connect the land sections of the North-South International Transport Corridor, will be completed in five years with adequate funding.

Iran's deputy minister of roads and urban development, Khairullah Hadami, made a statement in this regard, Tasnim reports.

"The construction of the missing 162-kilometre section can be completed within five years if financial resources are provided," the news agency quoted him as saying. The deputy minister added that Russia would provide funds for the construction.

On May 17, Russia and Iran signed an agreement on the joint construction of the 170-km Resht-Astara railway, which will connect the land sections of the North-South International Transport Corridor and increase the economic efficiency of the Trans-Caspian route. Russia is providing Iran with an intergovernmental loan of €1.3 billion for the railway project, the total cost of which is estimated at €1.6 billion. Russian authorities expect the project to become an alternative to the Suez Canal, providing a thorough route for supplies both in transit to Europe and from Russia to the Persian Gulf. At present, the project links several different transport systems in different countries.