Russian, Uzbek Experts To Design Trans-Afghan Railway Project
The press office of the Russian Trade Mission in Uzbekistan has announced that specialists from Russia and Uzbekistan will collaborate on the design of the Trans-Afghan railway.
The press office of the Russian Trade Mission in Uzbekistan has announced that specialists from Russia and Uzbekistan will collaborate on the design of the Trans-Afghan railway.
Experts from both countries will work together to plan the shortest new transit corridors linking Southeast Asia with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), China, and Europe.
TASS, Russia’s state news agency, reported on Friday, that Uzbekistan and Russia intend to jointly design the railway, which will traverse Afghan territory as part of the Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar route. The project is expected to create new transit corridors that will connect Southeast Asia to CIS countries, China, and Europe.
The railway is anticipated to reduce cargo transportation time and costs by 30 to 40 per cent.
This development follows agreements previously signed by the transport ministers of Uzbekistan and Russia, initiating the design phase of the Trans-Afghan railway project towards Pakistan.
The Russian Ministry of Transport stated that the two countries would conduct a joint feasibility study in 2025, focusing on assessing freight traffic and evaluating the project’s economic viability.
In February 2021, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan signed an agreement to construct a 573-kilometre railway through Afghanistan, aimed at connecting landlocked Central Asia to Pakistani ports. The estimated cost of the project is $4.8 billion, with the objective of enhancing regional economic connectivity.
