Baku to finance bridge construction on border with Iran
By Sara Rajabova
The construction of a border railway bridge between the Iranian Astara and Azerbaijani Astara is to be financed by the Azerbaijani side.
Iran's Deputy Roads and Urban Development Minister, CEO of Iranian Railways Mohsen Pour Seyed Aghaie told Trend news agency that the construction of the bridge, as well as its eight-kilometer branch in the country will be financed and carried out by Azerbaijan.
He said the Azerbaijani side agreed to finance the construction, and the bridge's construction will start before late this year (Iranian's year starts on March 21).
Aghaie said the heads of the railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia met to discuss the acceleration of construction of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway, which is a part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.
He said the construction of the railway's section running from the city of Qazvin to the city of Rasht should be completed next year.
Aghaie noted that the works on preparation of railway tracks was completed as part of the construction, rails were laid at some sections, and this work on the remaining sections of the railway will be soon completed.
He said during the trilateral meeting, it was agreed that Iran and Russia are jointly to construct the Resht-Astara (Iran) railway.
Aghaie added that the construction works will be financed by the Russian side on the basis of an agreement between Iran and Russia.
Azerbaijan's Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev earlier said Azerbaijan is ready to provide any necessary support to accelerate the construction of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway.
The Qazvin-Rasht-Astara railway is part of the North-South Transport Corridor. Its aim is to integrate the main transportation lines of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. Investment worth $400 million is designated for the construction operations.
The volume of cargo transportation through the corridor will amount to 6 million metric tons in the initial stage and will reach 15-20 million metric tons in the future.
The creation of a direct railway communication along the western coast of the Caspian Sea can contribute to the growth of the transportation market in the region, and become a good motivation for the expansion of foreign economic relations between regional states and European countries.
Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since 1918. Iran recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992.