DUSHANBE, November 12, Asia-Plus – Iranian and Tajik ministers have stressed the need for speeding up studies of a joint project for constructing a tunnel by Iranian experts in eastern Tajikistan, it was reported on November 10.

Visiting Iranian Energy Minister Said Parviz Fattah arrived in Dushanbe Thursday to inspect construction works of Iran-Tajikistan joint projects in this Central Asian country.

At a meeting with Tajik Minister of Transport and Communications Abdurahim Ashourov, the Iranian minister said that precise studies should be conducted prior to the beginning of the construction project for the ''Chormaghzak'' tunnel, 50 kilometers south of the Tajik capital.

The plan to construct the tunnel was put forward by government of Tajikistan during a visit to Dushanbe of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in late July.

After becoming operational, the 140-million-dollar project would play a magnificent role in promotion of Tajikistan''s economy.

Fattah voiced Tehran''s readiness to start construction operations for the project immediately after completion of primary studies and researches.

Iranian experts have so far helped their Tajik counterparts to construct the ''Anzob'' tunnel in north of Tajikistan. The tunnel shortens the distance between Iran and the Central Asian states of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan by some 1,200 kilometers and facilitates the transit of goods along North-South Corridor.