The Islamic Republic of Iran undertakes to complete the construction of the Istiqlol Tunnel in Tajikistan, according to the press center of the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan (MoT).
On Monday January 20, an agreement on completion of the second phase of construction of the Istiqlol Tunnel was signed in Dushanbe between the Government of Tajikistan, represented by Azim Ibrohim, Minister of Transport, and the Government of Iran, represented by Ali Vakili, CEO at Farab Group of Companies.
Speaking at the document signing ceremony Mr. Azim Ibrohim reportedly expressed confidence that the project would be implemented on time and at the highest quality level.
Recall, Iranian and Tajik energy ministers reached an agreement in Tehran in early December 2019 that Iran will take the necessary steps for the completion of the lighting of the tunnel.
The Istiqlol Tunnel, better known among the population as the Anzob Tunnel, was built with assistance of Iranian specialists. Iran’s Saber International constructed the Istiqlol Tunnel.
The Istiqlol Tunnel is a five kilometer long tunnel located 80 kilometers northwest of Dushanbe. It connects the Tajik capital to Tajikistan’s second largest city, Khujand.
It is also a transit route between Dushanbe and Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent. Previously, especially during the cold seasons, a lack of a direct link between northern and southern Tajikistan led to disruptions of commerce. The tunnel makes the highway from Dushanbe to Khujand open for traffic the whole year round and drops the transit time by four to five hours.
An official opening ceremony of the Istiqlol Tunnel was held in July 2007; however, some parts of the construction have been left half-finished.
According to Iranian media reports, the tunnel was constructed in three years, “costing US$60 million.”
