DUSHANBE, January 29, 2009, Asia-Plus — More than 1.3 billion US dollars are expected to be spent for rehabilitation of more than 2,000 kilometers of roads in Tajikistan till 2011, Transport and Communications Minister Abdurahim Ashour announced at a press conference in Dushanbe on January 28.
According to him, the funds will be allocated, primarily, from the country’s budget. Besides, investments and loans of international organizations will also be used for rehabilitation of the roads.
The minister noted that some 80 percent of consumer goods and food products in the country were carried by automotive transportation and rehabilitation of roads was of significant importance for development of the country’s economy. Compared to 1990 cargo shipments by automotive transportation have reduced by 70 percent due to poor state roads, Ashour said.
He noted that that a number of road rehabilitation projects were working in the country now: Dushanbe-Rasht-Saritosh in eastern Tajikistan; Dushanbe-Tursunzoda in the west of the country; Kolkhozobod-Nizny Panj in the southern Khatlon province; and Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak in the north of the country.
