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Lasha Zhvania: Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will go on stream in 2012 - EXCLUSIVE

Lasha Zhvania: Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will go on stream in 2012 - <font color=red>EXCLUSIVE</font>

04 June 2009 15:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Vugar Mustafayev â€“ APA-Economics. The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway has continued to progress on schedule despite several delays and technical problems, Georgian Minister of Economic Development Lasha Zhvania told APA-Economics correspondent in Istanbul.

â€œI think the progress of this project is successful and satisfies the transport ministers of the participating countries. There is no specific decision about the next meeting, but the parties may hold a meeting at different levels if need be,â€ he added.

According to him, a tender will be announced for the construction of Georgian section and a tunnel in the nearest future.

â€œThe rehabilitation of existing rail line is progressing on schedule. In my view, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway will go on stream in 2012,â€ he noted.

The three countries agreed in February 2007 to build a rail line linking the Azerbaijani capital Baku, the Georgian capital Tbilisi and the Turkish city of Kars. Construction work commenced on November 21, 2007.

As per the agreement, Azerbaijan undertook to extend a $200mln loan to Georgiaâ€™s Marabda-Kartsakhi Railroad LLC for 25 years at 1% interest rate annually. The loan will be spent on construction of a 29km long railroad in Georgia, a ST-2 wheel base in Turkish-Georgian border and rehabilitation of old railway.

The project costs more than $600 million. Construction of railroads is slated for operation in late 2011.
A 76km long railway will be laid in Turkey as part of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Rail Link.