DUSHANBE, July 15, 2013, Asia-Plus — The Branch of Innovative Road Solutions (IRS) in Tajikistan, which operates the toll on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, is reportedly financing the construction of a small hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in the Varzob district.
According to IRS’s official website, the company has allocated 600,000 U.S. dollars for construction of a 200 kW HPP in Varzob.
This hydropower plant is being constructed to ensure provision of regular supply of electricity to facilities located along the Dushanbe-Chanak highway.
Electricity generated by this hydropower plant will be provided to the Istiqlol and Dousti tunnels as well as the Maikhoura toll-collection point, the website said.
We will recall that IRS was permitted to operate the toll on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway. A 354-kilometer toll road from Dushanbe to Chanak links Tajikistan”s capital with Uzbekistan through the northern province of Sughd.
The highway was upgraded by Chinese companies and paid for with a $280 million loan from China. The Tajik government decided that in order to repay the loan to China, a toll would be collected for using the road starting on April 1, 2010.
Seven toll-collection points (plaza) now function on the Dushanbe-Chanak high-way: Varzob; Hushyori; Maikhoura; Shahriston, Istaravshan, Dehmoy; and Chorukh.
