DUSHANBE, August 23, Asia-Plus — Some 2,000 Tajik citizens will be recruited to construct the “Shahriston” tunnel on the 180
th
kilometer of the highway from Moscow to Khujand, presidential press service reported.
On Tuesday August 22, President Emomali Rahmonov attended the groundbreaking ceremony for this tunnel. Telling a ceremony of an official commencement of the construction of the tunnel, Rahmonov noted that the Shahriston tunnel was a facility of statewide importance and a part of plans to enhance automotive communication between the southern and northern parts of the country and facilitate international transit transportations. “The tunnel is one of priorities and main directions of activity of the country’s government and it will reduce Tajikistan”s isolation from neighboring markets,” President Rahmonov noted.
Construction of a 5-kilometer Shahriston tunnel is part of plans to improve road communications between Dushanbe, Khujand and the Uzbek border city of Chanoq. China’s construction company “China Road” excavates the Shahriston tunnel.
According to preliminary estimates, the Shahriston tunnel project will cost some 175 million (equivalent to US$51 million). The tunnel is supposed to be finished in 31 months.
During his two-day visit to the Sughd province Rahmonov yesterday also attended an official opening of a new school to accommodate 450 pupils in the Ghonchi district. Emomali Rahmonov telling inaugurating ceremony noted that the government paid a special attention enhancement of the education sector in the country.
The head of state ordered the government and the education ministry to consider the issue of completion of the construction of two half-finished schools in Ghonchi. One of these schools is supposed to be finished by the end of this year, and another one by the next school year.
At present 10 schools are being constructed and additional 164 classes are being constructed at 22 other schools in northern Tajikistan. Presidential reserve fund has financed refurbishment of 18 schools in Sughd this year.
