08 November 2008, 12:07
RRs want to participate in Iran-Armenia railway
The Company "Russian Railways" (RRs) is ready to take part in construction of the Iran-Armenia railway in the capacity of project contractor, should Armenia, Iran and Russia agree on the project terms, as Vladimir Yakunin, President of the RRs, told journalists.
The agreement to build the Iran-Armenia railway was reached last year by Presidents of Armenia and Iran. Earlier, Gurgen Sarkisyan, Minister of Transport and Communications of Armenia, had reported that the construction of the railway will take at least five years, and the value of the project can make about 2 billion dollars.
According to the Minister, for today, there are three alternatives of the Iran-Armenia railway. The variants in question assume the railway 443 km, 449 km or 397 km long. Respectively, the costs of the projects differ. The Minister has noted that for the Armenian party the third variant is the most attractive; it assumes the route Gagarino-Gavar-Martuni-Dzhermuk. As he said, this project allows reaching the Vayots Dzor Region by the shortest route, and from there - the Megri District, which borders on Iran. The project assumes building 80 km of railway in the territory of Iran up to the station of Merant.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent
