Construction of the Qalai-Khumb (administrative center of Darvoz district) – Vanj section of the Dushanbe–Khorog–Kulma highway remains suspended for the second consecutive month and will resume only after security is restored along the Tajik-Afghan border, according to the Ministry of Transport (MoT).
An official source within a MoT told Asia-Plus that the decision followed an armed attack on November 30, 2025, in the village of Shodaki in the Darvoz district.
Armed individuals crossed into Tajikistan from the Afghan village of Ruzvaiyak in Badakhshan province and attacked workers of the Chinese construction company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which was implementing the project.
CRBC has been building the Qalai-Khumb–Vanj section of the Dushanbe–Khorog–Kulma (China border) highway since September 2022.
According to the Main Border Guard Directorate of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Tajikistan, two Chinese nationals were killed and two others injured in that attack.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said construction was halted on December 1, 2025, following instructions from the Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe, citing the need to ensure the safety of foreign specialists. At the same time, the Ministry of Transport noted that local contractors continue to carry out limited rehabilitation work on the road.
Project significance
The Qalai-Khumb – Vanj section, which runs through the mountainous terrain of the Darvoz district, is considered one of the most technically challenging road segments in the country and has not undergone major repairs for many years.
Once reconstruction and modernization are completed—including the construction of two tunnels with a total length of 5.2 km—the travel distance will be reduced by 16.7 km. The total length of the section will decrease from 109 km to 92.3 km, with 53 km in the Darvoz district and 39.3 km in the Vanj district.
The MoT source says the project aims to improve road safety, ensure uninterrupted year-round traffic, and bring the highway in line with international standards. It is also expected to reduce travel time and fuel costs, create jobs, and contribute to poverty reduction.
In January 2025, the ministry had announced plans to complete the section a year ahead of schedule, by June 2025.
Funding
The project is financed through a $230 million grant provided by the Chinese government. Tajik authorities have also prepared a rehabilitation project for the 235-kilometer section Rushan–Varkhedz (near the administrative border of Murgab district), with World Bank support and are negotiating with China on financing.
Surveys have been completed on the remaining 296-kilometer stretch of the Dushanbe–Khorog–Kulma highway in the Murgab district, with design work underway. Once fully rehabilitated, the road is expected to become an international multimodal corridor of major economic importance for Tajikistan.
Project details
Construction began on September 20, 2022, with the Ministry of Transport as the client, China Railway Design Corporation as the managing partner, and China Road & Bridge Corporation as the contractor. Completion is scheduled for September 20, 2026.
The road is designed to Class III standards, with two lanes, a total width of 12 meters, and 2.5-meter shoulders on both sides. The project includes 92.34 km of roadway, two tunnels (3.4 km and 1.8 km), five avalanche protection galleries, 14 bridges, and other engineering structures.
Concrete works in both tunnels have been completed, while installation of utilities, lighting, and fire safety systems continues. Twelve of the 14 bridges have been completed, and asphalt paving has been finished on most sections.
