YEREVAN, August 7. /ARKA/. Iranian companies have begun construction of the Kajaran Tunnel in Armenia, reports the Iranian embassy in Armenia.
"The 7.2-km tunnel will become one of the most challenging engineering projects in the Caucasus region and part of the North-South Corridor," the Iranian diplomatic mission said in a statement.
The embassy stated that upon completion, Iran will have shorter access to the Black Sea (Europe).
On June 29, the construction of the 7.2-km Kajaran Tunnel on the North-South highway officially started in Armenia.
The project, worth about $395 million, is being implemented by Iranian companies Abad Rahan Pars International Group and Tunnel Sadd Ariana. The construction is financed by a $200 million loan from the Eurasian Stabilization and Development Fund and co-financing from the Armenian government of about $195 million.
The tunnel will shorten the route by 14 km and travel time by approximately 40 minutes, allowing to bypass the Meghri pass. The construction is expected to take six years.
As part of the project, in addition to the tunnel, about 4 km of access roads will be built. The tunnel will feature two lanes, sidewalks, special pockets for emergency stops every 250 meters, as well as an emergency exit.
