Cost of Baku-Kars railway to surge over planned repair
The cost of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, which will link
Azerbaijan with Turkey through Georgia, will increase due to
additional repair required, the Azerbaijani government
announced.
Research conducted by Baku on the rail line’s section extending
from the Georgian border to the city of Kars in 2009 revealed that
the section is in dilapidated condition and requires an overhaul,
Deputy Transport Minister Musa Panahov told the Baku-based ANS TV
channel.
"Transporting the envisioned [bulk of] cargo by the railroad, i.e.
5 million tons [per year], at the initial stage, is currently
impossible. We will therefore carry out capital repair on the rail
line. And, since the railroad’s 167 km section will be repaired,
the cost of the project has significantly increased."
Panahov said refurbishment operations have been suspended for the
time being due to snow that is 30-40 cm deep in the area.
The deputy minister predicts that construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be completed by the end of 2011 and
it is to become operational in mid-2012.*
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