DUSHANBE, October 20, Asia-Plus  - The construction of the Shar-Shar tunnel in southern Tajikistan officially commences today.

President Rahmonov is expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the tunnel that will be held in the city of Norak. 

China won the tender to build the tunnel and Beijing this year offered Tajikistan a grant and loan to fund the project.  An agreement was reached in Dushanbe in July 2005.  On July 21 2005, Tajik-Chinese talks in Dushanbe resulted in a second agreement on providing assistance for the construction. 

The 2.2-kilometer tunnel that will be built under the Shar-Shar pass, some 80 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe, on the highway from the Tajik capital to Kulob via Norak, will link Dushanbe with the country’s east. The estimated budget for the project is US $38 million.  China intends to invest some US $30 million in the construction, which is scheduled to be finished in 38 months. 

The total cost of repairing the road is US $295.9 million somonis, including a loan of US $281.2 million. The estimated budget for the construction of the tunnel is US $70 million.