DUSAHNBE, May 14, Asia-Plus - The Government of Iran has provided a $55 million loan to Tajikistan for construction of the Chormaghzak tunnel in southeast Tajikistan, Asia-Plus has learned from Nourinisso Boboyeva, the chairwoman of department for foreign ties of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).  

According to her, these funds will go to not only constructing the Chormaghzak tunnel, which will stretch 4.2 kilometers but also reconstructing 2.5 kilometers of road leading to the Chormaghzak pass.  

She added that the project cost has not yet been defined more precisely.  “According to the preliminary data of the ministry, the provided loan is not enough to fully implement the project,” said Boboyeva, “Iranian experts are expected to arrive in Tajikistan soon to conduct geological survey on the site for construction of the tunnel and estimate more precisely the project cost.”  

Boboyeva said that Iran’s Sabir International, which constructed the Anzob tunnel in northern Tajikistan, had been selected to construct the Chormaghzak tunnel.  

The tunnel is scheduled to be finished in 30 months.