Uzbekistan Railways has extended the contract for the operation and maintenance of the Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway line in Afghanistan.
The contract has been extended for three years. According to the new terms of the contract, the Uzbek side will receive USD 19 million per year for the railway maintenance.
Uzbekistan Railways completed the construction of the Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway line in 2010. Earlier, Uzbekistan Railways won the tender announced by the government of Afghanistan. Uzbek specialists built a railway stretching 75 kilometers, several stations and reconstructed the Hairatan existing station. The gauge width of the railway line is 1,520 mm.
The project was implemented through the Asian Development Bank’s grant in the amount of USD165 million allocated to the government of Afghanistan and the Afghan government’s own funds (about USD5 million).
Almost a half of Afghanistan’s imports, as well as many humanitarian goods, are transported through the Hairatan river port (located on the Amu Darya river). Commissioning in 2011 of the railway has greatly increased the freight traffic.
According to the contract, the Uzbek side annually receives $32 million (plus additional payment) for the agreed traffic volumes.
Photo: afra.gov.af
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