DUSHANBE, February 18, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The first phase of the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak (Uzbek border town) highway rehabilitation project is expected to be finished in June this year, according to the Ministry of energy and Industries (MoEI).

“At present, specialists from China’s company, China Road, are installing roadway markers, bridge railings and lighting pillars,” the source at a MoEI said, noting that the second phase of the project would be launched in the second half-year of 2009.

According to him, 12.1 million US dollars have been allocated for implementation of the second phase of the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway rehabilitation project.  The project is implemented in three stages, and rehabilitation of the highway is scheduled to be finished before the end of this year. 

We will recall that China Road has won the tender for implementation of the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway rehabilitation project and Beijing in 2006 offered Tajikistan grants and loans to fund the project.  Rehabilitation of the road and construction of a tunnel under the Shahriston pass started in July 2006.

A total project cost is estimated at some $295.9 million, including 281.105 million US dollars provided by the Chinese government in a form of a long-term loan.  The loan carries a 20-year period and an interest rate of 2 percent per annum.  The remaining $14.795 million are provided by the government of Tajikistan.