Uzbekistan Railways to manage Afghan railroad for three more years
19/03/2015 02:15
Uzbekistan Railways to manage Afghan railroad for three more years
19/03/2015 02:15
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- State joint stock railway company Uzbekistan Temir Yollari (Uzbekistan Railways) and Ministry of Public Works of Afghanistan renewed agreement for operation, maintenance and management of the 75km railway line from Hairatan to Mazar-e-Sharif for three more years, National Television of Afghanistan said.
Acting Minister of Public Works of Afghanistan Noorgul Mangal said the new agreement would cost US$19 million a year and Uzbekistan Temir Yollari will get additional privileges. He also noted that Afghanistan received about US$13 million discount a year within the agreement.
In line with new agreement, businesspersons of Afghanistan can use the railway line to export goods abroad. In line with previous agreement, the railroad was used only for import of goods to Afghanistan. Within new agreement, the Uzbek company will pay taxes to Afghanistan and train 50 citizens of Afghanistan a year.
Noorgul Mangal also noted that Afghanistan is currently working on technical design and survey of other railway projects, including railroad from Mazar-e-Sharif to Sher Khan Port and Herat to Toorghondi. These lines would link Afghanistan to the neighboring countries.
Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Yadgarkhoja Shadmanov voiced his pleasure over renewal of the contract for additional three years and said that for nearly four years Uzbek specialists operated the railroad. He said that Hairatan to Mazar-e-Sharif railway line is a big commercial project for Afghanistan.
He stated that Uzbekistan is ready to help Afghanistan in fields of electricity, transportation and other commercial areas in future.
As reported earlier, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari completed construction of Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif railroad in the end of 2010 with the cost of US$129 million.
The Uzbek company constructed 75 km railroad and several stations, as well as reconstructed Hairatan station within the project.
The project was financed due to US$165 million grant of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and US$5 million of own funds of the Afghanistan Government.
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