Today, the official ceremony for the start of the construction of the Kajaran Tunnel took place, attended by Iran's Vice President Seyyed Hamid Pourmohammadi, Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, Armenia's Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan, representatives of the diplomatic corps, members of the National Assembly, and other guests:
The guests first toured the two already excavated tunnels on the 32 km section of the Kajaran-Agarak road, familiarizing themselves with the extensive work done:
After the tour, a ceremonial signing of the contract for the construction of the Kajaran Tunnel took place:
The construction of the Kajaran Tunnel is part of the North-South highway, which will allow the full operation of a significant part of the southern segment considered a priority:
The construction of the Kajaran Tunnel will shorten the existing route by approximately 14 km, increase the average speed of vehicles from 50 km/h to 80 km/h, and reduce travel time by about 40 minutes:
The tunnel will bypass the Meghri pass, located at an altitude of 2535 m above sea level, significantly enhancing road safety:
The Kajaran Tunnel construction project is financed by a $200 million loan from the Eurasian Stabilization and Development Fund and approximately $195 million in co-financing from the Government of Armenia:
Construction work is set to begin in 2026 and is expected to be completed within 6 years:
