DUSHANBE, March 15, 2010, Asia-Plus — On Monday March 15, President Emomali Rahmon attended the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the Chormaghzak tunnel, according to presidential press service.
A 4,450-meter Chormaghzak Tunnel will be dug under the Chormaghzak Pass located some 35-40 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe.
The tunnel is part of the Dushanbe-Vahdat-Danghara highway rehabilitation project and it will be constructed with the help of China. The tunnel is expected to be finished in three year.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, President Rahmon stressed the importance of that road project for reduction of Tajikistan’s isolation from the neighboring markets.
The president noted that the estimated budget for construction of the Chormaghzak tunnel was some 300 million somoni, while a total cost of the Dushanbe-Vahdat-Danghara highway rehabilitation project was 630 million somoni (equivalent to 143 million U.S. dollars). The project is being implemented with financial support from China.
Addressing those present, President Rahmon also touched upon efforts undertaken by the government to bring the country out of the transportation deadlock. He called on local businesspeople to participate more actively in implementation of the transportation development projects.
The same day, President Rahmon attended a ceremony of laying out a vineyard on an area of 32 hectares near the Chormaghzak village, Vahdat district. This project is funded by production cooperative Yoqout.
