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Baku-Tbilis-Kars Coordination Council meets in Baku

16 September 2008 15:08 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov â€“ APA-Economics. The Coordination Council of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Project has met in Baku for the he 4th meeting.
The meeting, chaired by Azerbaijanâ€™s Minister of Transport Ziya Mammadov, was attended by representatives from the Government of Azerbaijan, representatives from the project contractor Azerinshaatservis and officers of several Georgian bodies.
The meeting discussed works in Marabda-Kartsakhi railroad, activities done in 2008, detail design for Marabda-Tetriskaro road (29.2 km) by KyivHiproTrans Research and Development Institute and specifications submitted by Marabda-Kartsakhi Railroad LLC.
Sadraddin Mammadov, Officer of Azerbaijanâ€™s Ministry of Transport, said Georgia suggests implementing Georgian section of the project at 3 phases while Azerbaijan proposes 2 phases.
â€œWe think the construction work will progress on schedule,â€ he added.
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.