Emomali Rahmon, who began his working visit to the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) today, arrived in Darvoz district after Vanj, where, with his participation, a section of the road from Qalai Khumb, the administrative center of Darvoz district, to Rushan gates, including a road tunnel, was officially opened, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
The tunnel is 3,400 meters long, with a height of 6 meters 90 cm and a width of 8 meters. The construction involved both local and foreign experts, utilizing products, most of which are produced in Tajikistan. This section of the road became one of the most challenging in the country, with increasing demands and expenses for its reconstruction and maintenance each year.
The road connects Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe, with GBAO’s administrative center, Khorog, as well as linking Tajikistan to China. The construction and rehabilitation of this highway, which holds significant economic and international importance, began in September 2021 when Emomali Rahmon laid the foundation for these works.
The length of the road section passing from Qalai Khumb to the Vanj T-intersection is 109 kilometers, and the construction of two tunnels totaling 5,200 meters in length reduced the distance by 16.5 kilometers, making the route 16.5 km shorter than before. Previously, it took four and a half to five hours to traverse this section; now, after the updates and tunnel construction, travel time has been reduced to less than two hours.
Emomali Rahmon was informed that the roads meet the third technical level standard, with a standard width of 12 meters. The project includes the construction of 15 road bridges totaling 633 meters, five anti-avalanche corridors totaling 500 meters, 12,900 meters of reinforced concrete and stone walls, and 200 meters of water pipelines.
"The construction of this road was carried out in accordance with all modern safety standards, eliminating the threats of floods, avalanches, and landslides. Now, traffic along this route is possible year-round without safety threats," the statement noted.
Emomali Rahmon highly praised the engineers and road workers for their contribution to the realization of this important project, emphasizing that their expertise will be applied to the construction of the Khorog-Kulma Pass highway.
The Dushanbe-Kulob-Khorog-Kulma highway is a key transportation route in Tajikistan, connecting Dushanbe with GBAO and eventually to China via the Kulma Pass. This route is part of the larger Asian Highway 66 and is also known as the Pamir Highway in parts. It's a crucial link for trade and travel, particularly for the GBAO region.
Italian cheese and goat farm
In the village of Umarak in Darvoz district, an Agro-Industrial Complex for livestock farming, including dairy goats, rabbits, and a dairy processing workshop, was also inaugurated. The complex is based on the LLC "Innovative Industrial and Technological Park of Darvoz District" and occupies an area of half a hectare, with a project cost of 4.5 million somonis.
The President of Tajikistan opened the goat dairy farm, which is designed for 140 goats. Currently, 92 milking goats are being raised on the farm, with an annual milk production capacity of 72 tons. The complex also employs 10 local residents.
Additionally, the president was briefed on the rabbit breeding process. The farm has imported 100 rabbits of the French Hycole breed, and the project is part of the "Rabbit Farming Development Program in Tajikistan for 2022-2026."
The complex contributes to ensuring the population has access to dietary meat and expands the sector.
Also inaugurated was a milk processing workshop producing a wide range of products, including cheese, cottage cheese, milk, and cream. The workshop uses Italian methods for cheese production and provides jobs for 7 local residents.
This agro-industrial complex contributes to the creation of new jobs and ensuring the population has access to high-quality dairy and meat products, in line with the national development strategy through 2030, according to the report.
