Tajikistan and Iran to continue construction of Istiklol tunnel

The Lower House of the Parliament of Tajikistan, having considered at the meeting the memorandum on completion of the second phase of the Istiklol tunnel project between the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan and the company for the development of water resources and energy of Iran, decided to allocate an additional 11 million dollars. This is reported by Avesta with reference to the head of the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan Khudoeur Khudoörzod. According to the head of the Ministry, both sides in equal shares will participate in financing of 5.5 million dollars each. In order to complete the second phase of the tunnel construction project, it will be necessary not only to carry out design works, but also to purchase, as well as to install ventilation, lighting, fire extinguishing and safety monitoring systems. Since the beginning of the project, which began in Soviet times, about 61.4 million dollars have been spent on the construction of the Istiklol tunnel. In 2006, the tunnel was put into operation in an unfinished form: there were no lighting, ventilation, air extraction systems. The Government of Tajikistan has tried several times to negotiate with the Iranian company to complete the construction works. However, the project still remains unfinished. Istiklol tunnel with a total length of 5.2 km is located under the high-mountain pass Anzob, connecting the central part of Tajikistan with the northern region, which makes it an important part of the transport system of the country.