DUSHANBE, July 22, 2016, Asia-Plus – President Emomali Rahmon is giving start to rehabilitation of a roundabout in Dushanbe today, a source at the Tajik government told Asia-Plus in an interview.

Besides, the president is expected to inaugurate a number of new social and economic facilities in the city.

Tajikistan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in September 2014 signed a loan agreement on the Dushanbe-Uzbekistan Border Road Improvement Project, which provides for rehabilitation of a 4.6-kilometer section of the road within the urban area (from the Avicenna Monument to the Western Gate of Dushanbe).

“Under this agreement, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide a US$35 million loan to Tajikistan,” the source said.

The EBRD says the Project covers rehabilitation and upgrade of the 62-kilometer road linking the city of Dushanbe to the Uzbek border and connecting Tajikistan to the Russian Federation to the north (via Uzbekistan) with onward links to Turkey and Western Europe (e.g., via Caspian Sea routes).  The road is a part of the CAREC Corridor Program which seeks to expand trade and improve competitiveness through focused action by all multilateral partners (i.e. ADB, EBRD, IMF, IDF, WB and UN) in transport initiatives, trade facilitation, energy, trade policy, and economic corridor development.

The road reportedly consists of 5 sections. The upgrade of Sections 2 to 5 (from Western Gate of Dushanbe to the Tajik – Uzbek border) of approximately 57 km in length was financed by ADB grant. Section 1 of approximately 4.6 km in length is located within the urban area (between the Avicenna Monument and the Western Gate of Dushanbe) and includes 82nd roundabout and Avicenna roundabout.

The project will involve: widening of the road, from three lanes to four; construction of a flyover and underpass; removal of the existing concrete pavement and then construction of a new asphalt road.    .