DUSHANBE, June 20, Asia-Plus — The government plans to attract foreign investments for construction of a 2,340-meter rail tunnel on the Dushanbe-Vahdat railroad, which is a section of the Vahdat-Yovon railroad.
Minister of Finance Safarali Najmiddinov remarked this today while speaking at a regular sitting of the third session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation.
Presenting the bill requiring amendments to the RT Law “On the National Budget for 2012,” the minister noted that the railroad would be finished in two years.
“The Dushanbe-Yovon-Qurghon Teppa railroad is a part of the project aimed at construction of railway link that will connect Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China,” Najmididnov said, noting that the cost of building the 146-kilometer link connecting Dushanbe and Qurghon Teppa is estimated at 130 million U.S. dollars.
The project that was launched in March 2009 includes construction of 18 large and small rail bridges and one rail tunnel.
“In view of the aforesaid, the government asks the parliament to exempt the delivery to the country of special machines and equipment necessary for construction of the Dushanbe-Yovon railway for a total amount of 135 million somoni (equivalent to more than 27.5 million U.S. dollars) from payment of value added tax (VAT) and customs duties,” said the minister. “The released funds will be spent for implementation of the project.”
Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon unanimously supported amendments offered by the government.
