DUSHANBE, May 10, Asia-Plus - The pace of the construction of the Sangtuda-2 hydropower plant on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan, which is being built with participation of Iran’s capital, will be speeded up and the station is expected to be finished in the first half-year of 2009, presidential press service said.

“After that, Iran is supposed to participate in construction of another power plant with capacity of 1,000 megawatts on the Vakhsh River,” Abdufattoh Sharifzoda, a spokesman for the president, said. 

The construction of two 500-kilovolt power-transmission lines from Tajikistan via Afghanistan to Iran and Pakistan will be accelerated as well, the spokesman said. 

Sharifzoda noted that the construction of the Chormaghzak tunnel in the Khatlon province as well as automotive and rail roads Kolkhozobod-Panji Poyon-Kunduz-Mazor-i Sharif-Herat-Mashhad will start before the end of this year. 

The construction of the Chormaghzak tunnel that will stretch 4.2 kilometers will be fully funded by Iran, the spokesman said.  The tunnel is scheduled to be finished in 30 months.  

Besides, the construction of a large Tajik-Iranian commercial center will start this year as well, according to presidential press service.