DUSHANBE, August 26, 2009, Asia-Plus -- The state commission has completed inspection of quality of construction of the Shar-Shar Tunnel and formal acceptance of the tunnel, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).

The tunnel is part of the road that runs from Dushanbe through Vahdat and Danghara to Kulob.  Shar-Shar Tunnel was recently completed with the help of China.

The source at a MoTC noted that inspection by the state commission had recorded a number of insignificant shortcomings that would be removed within the next few days.

The tunnel is scheduled to be officially opened on the eve of the 18th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence, which marked on September 9.  President Emomali Rahmon is expected to attend the tunnel-opening ceremony, the source said.

We will recall that construction of the Shar-Shar Tunnel, which is a 2,223 meters long tunnel, began in October 2006 and China provided a US$36 million long-term loan for this project.