Shahriston Tunnel to be introduced into operation by September 2011

DUSHANBE, April 16, 2011, Asia-Plus -- To-date, builders have constructed 4,422 meters of the Shahriston Tunnel and it remains to construct just 831 meters of it, Murod Jumayev, head of  the Main Department for Supervision over Safety in Industry and Mining under the Government f Tajikistan, said.

According to him, builders have dug 2,757 meters from the southern portal and 1,655 meters from the northern portal and the tunnel will be finished by September 2011.  

The 5,252-meter Shahriston Tunnel is part the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway rehabilitation project.  The tunnel is being constructed with help of specialists from China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).  A total budget for construction of the Shahriston Tunnel is US$51.7 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.