DUSHANBE, June 13, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Traffic has been partially restricted at the southern portal of the Shahriston Tunnel as a 6-kilometer section of the Dushanbe-Chanak highway (from 138th to 144th kilometer) has been damaged by a rock sagging, Deputy Transport Minister, Sherali Ganjalov, told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon.

According to him, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which has built the highway, is currently carrying out repair works.  “Therefore, traffic on this section of the highway is currently restricted,” the deputy minister said.

“In connection with repair works, the Branch of Innovative Road Solutions (IRS) in Tajikistan, which operates the toll on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, has asked the Ministry of Transport to suspend traffic via this section of the highway from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm,” Ganjalov added.

The 5,523-meter Shahriston Tunnel is part the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway rehabilitation project.  The tunnel was constructed with help of specialists from China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).  A total budget for construction of the Shahriston Tunnel is some US$80 million.

The Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway rehabilitation project was launched in summer 2006.  Chinese company, China Road and Bridge Corporation, won the tender and Beijing in 2006 offered Tajikistan grants and loans to fund the project.  A total project cost is estimated at $295.9 million, including $281.1 million 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 some $14.8 million have been provided by the Government of Tajikistan.