During a meeting between Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President, Wencai Zhang, and the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Abdulla Aripov, a USD 80 million agreement for the electrification of Pap-Namangan-Andijan railway line was signed. The total value of the project is USD 177.45 million of which the Government and O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llar will allot USD 97.45 million and the rest of the sum is covered by the ADB. The project will electrify 145.1 km of track linking major cities in the Fergana Valley with the capital.
The railway company and ADB have launched on November 6 the tender on the electrification contract and interested companies can submit their offer by 18 December 2017. The bidders are invited for the Contact System Supply in one indivisible package that involves contact system polymer insulator, steel insulated console, clamp assembly of console, anchor pull-off, cantilever, reinforced concrete anchor, tri-radial reinforced concrete foundation and reinforced concrete contact system mast.
The project will facilitate direct and efficient operation of freight and passenger train services, and promote economic and social development in the Fergana Valley, situated in Central Asia, being spread across eastern Uzbekistan, southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan. It will improve environmental and safety performance of railways, and accelerate regional connectivity. As of 2016, rail operations on the Pap Namangan Andijan line were limited to two passenger trains and three freight trains per day. By extending an adjacent project being undertaken by O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari (UTY) to electrify the Pap Kokand Margilan Andijan line, the project will allow reliable, more frequent, and higher-speed connections between the major cities and towns in the Fergana Valley.
Switching from diesel to electric traction will reduce the amount of noise, vibration, and air pollution from each train. By increasing the capacity and attractiveness of rail travel, the project will help shift transport away from roads and reduce local pollutants and greenhouse gases. The project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 tons per year. Operational safety in the Fergana Valley will be improved through a dedicated project component on railway safety.
The project supports the development of the Fergana Valley Tashkent Economic Corridor. The completion of the Pap Angren line in mid-2016 allowed for the first time a continuous, electrified railway link between the Fergana Valley and Tashkent. Travel time from Namangan to Tashkent will be cut from the current 5 hours by road to about 3 hours by rail, enabling better access to employment opportunities in Tashkent. Also, businesses headquartered in Tashkent will be able to move more of its activities to the Fergana Valley.
The project railway is part of CAREC Corridor 2, linking Uzbekistan to the China to the east and Europe to the west. The project railway forms a central link on CAREC designated rail corridors 202 and 203.
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