DUSHANBE, November 24, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Work on concreting arch of the Anzob Tunnel, linking the northern Sughd province and the central part of the country, was completed at the end of last week, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).

The source at a MoTC said that work on installation of lighting facilities was also nearing completion.  According to him, this work is expected to be finished by the end of this week.

He further added that the tunnel had been opened for traffic.  As it had been reported earlier, the Istiqlol Tunnel, better known as the Anzob Tunnel, had still been closed for traffic since September 12 because of repairing works.

“Finishing work in the ventilation tunnel is also nearing completion,” said “Builders are currently working in three shifts in the ventilation tunnel.”

The tunnel, 5.5 kilometers in length, has been built with assistance of Iranian specialists.

We will recall that Iran’s Saber International has constructed the Istiqlol Tunnel.  The total project cost was estimated at 40 million US dollars, and Iran has provided US$5 million in a form of grant and extended a loan worth US$21 million to Tajikistan.  The tunnel makes the highway from Dushanbe to Khujand open for traffic the whole year round and drops the transit time by four to five hours.