North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

[Tsov]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

I wonder what this will mean for these projects.

http://armenpress.am/eng/news/788242/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Federate]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

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this project is crucial, and a great choice by Armenia Fund. The Shahumian region is the least populated region in Artsakh at a mere 2,000 people.The project will go a long way in preserving that population and in time hopefully begin increasing it.

This year's telethon will be dedicated to completing this once more which makes me very happy. Just saddened to see Karvachar town will be left off of the road, for understandable reasons but still. I would have liked to see them add a small highway that leads from Karvachar to this highway.

[Mher]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Construction of North-South transport corridor to be fully completed by 2019

YEREVAN, October 4. / ARKA /. The construction of the North-South transport corridor across Armenia will be fully completed by 2019, said today the first deputy minister of transport and communications Artur Arakelyan during a parliamentary discussion on 2015 draft budget.

He said currently the construction of two sections of the road - from Artashat to Ashtarak and from Ashtarak to Talin is underway.

Arakelyan said negotiations with the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) that had pledged earlier a $100 million loan for the project to support its southern section are nearing completion. He said a feasibility study for the southern direction of the road is ready and a loan agreement is expected to be signed later this year.

As for speed limits on the road, according to the deputy minister, it will be up to 100-110 km / h. He said on the other interstate highways in Armenia, the limit is 90 km / h and depending on the safety measures at some stretches more severe speed restrictions will be imposed.

The draft 2015 state budget earmarks 51.5 billion drams for the transport and communications ministry.

The Armenian government approved January 14, 2010 the investment program to build the North-South transport corridor, as well as a $500 million framework loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank.

The goal of the project is to upgrade Armenia’s main corridor road as part of a broader thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade, growth and livelihood opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia sub-regions. Funds are being released by the Asian Development Bank periodically through a multitranche financing facility.

The transport corridor will stretch from the southern Armenian town of Meghri, on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border with Georgia. The North-South transport corridor will enable Armenia to mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

According to Armenian officials, the cost of building the North-South transport corridor is estimated at $ 1.5 billion.-0-

http://arka.am/en/news/economy/construction_of_north_south_transport_corridor_to_be_fully_completed_by_2019/#sthash.VWkEDqOp.dpuf

[Mher]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Vardenis-Martakert Highway Construction Underway

Roads. They connected the edges of the Roman Empire, allowing armies and trade to travel freely, with relative ease, as needed.

Two millennia later in the United States, they connect the country’s vast territory so that someone can get on the Interstate 5 (or, “the 5” if you’re from California) in San Diego and not get off until after they reach Canada. Or, jump onto Interstate 10 and take it all the way to Florida.

Over fifty years ago, US President Dwight Eisenhower, in explaining the need for a network of roads, said, “A modern, efficient highway system is essential to meet the needs of our growing population, our expanding economy, and our national security.”

Today, Armenia needs a highway system that will help to expand its economy, ensure its national security and, in turn, allow the population to grow. Armenia Fund is working toward these goals by building the Vardenis-Martakert Highway.

The highway is going to connect what will be an integrated transportation network open to every kind of vehicular traffic. When complete, the roads connecting the Republic of Armenia and the Artsakh Republic will allow for a free flow of people and goods between communities.

Based on the experience with the Goris-Stepanakert Highway – the first major pan-Armenian effort to rebuild the country – the positive impact on local communities will be significant.

A project to rebuild the road destroyed during the Artsakh War through incessant shelling by Azerbaijan, the first highway was an $11 million investment, all of which was spent in the country.

Since its completion, over $38 million in revenue has been generated in tourism alone and the 65,000 residents in the communities along the road have benefited from having direct access to medical care, trade, and tourism.

Artsakh’s only connection to the outside world until the Stepanakert airport is opened, the roads are indispensable to improving the economy of hard to reach areas of the country.

The 72-mile-long highway will make it easier for agriculture products from the northern regions of Artsakh, including the 30 villages along the road, to reach the economic center of Yerevan and beyond. Whereas it currently takes approximately 6.5 hours to reach Yerevan from the border region of Martakert, it will now take less than 4.5 hours.

By connecting to Armenia’s highway network, goods from Artsakh will have an easier time reaching the Black Sea port of Poti, in Georgia, for export to foreign markets. Selling high-quality, competitively-priced goods – from fresh produce to the wine of Martuni – in foreign markets has the potential to positively impact economic development.

Able to work the rich farmland of Artsakh and have a ready market for their products, farmers will be take care of their families and will have every reason to stay. The improved connection between different parts of Armenia will be a boon to regions inside the country, as well.

Gegharkunik, land of the majestic Lake Sevan, has a climate best suited to growing potatoes but with the new highway, the abundant fruits and vegetables farmed in northern Artsakh will have a new and accessible market where there is a demand for its products.

The impact of the road also extends into tourism. As Artsakh makes itself a more attractive destination for adventurous travelers, the regions of Karvachar and Shahumyan are prime candidates to benefit from an increase in visitors. Because tourists will be able to enter from one end and exit out of another – an option not currently available – experiencing the whole of Artsakh’s sublime beauty will be easier and more attractive.

Following the comprehensive and lengthy project bidding and decision process, construction began immediately. In mid-February, as weather conditions improved, crews started working on the road – and it has already started making a difference.

As of the first week of March 2014, 150 people have been employed and by summertime, that number will double to around 300 people working on the project. In total, before the highway is even opened to the public, over $30 million will have been injected into Armenia’s economy.

Symbolically, the Vardenis-Martakert Highway, once connected to the other transportation arteries in Armenia and throughout the region, will form a circle. It is the culmination of a multiyear, pan-Armenian effort to strengthen and develop Armenia – an effort that is the source of pride and renewed national confidence.

Through the vision and unity of purpose of the world’s Armenians and the Armenia Fund, the country is stronger – and things seem only to be getting brighter.

http://asbarez.com/121494/vardenis-martakert-highway-construction-underway/

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this project is crucial, and a great choice by Armenia Fund. The Shahumian region is the least populated region in Artsakh at a mere 2,000 people.The project will go a long way in preserving that population and in time hopefully begin increasing it.

[Mher]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Construction of the North-South Highway has been halted since late November due to "Armenia not having the knowledge and experience with such a project". Construction is supposed to start again soon. Furthermore, as an update, the cost is supposed to be 800-900 million. Also, my friend in Armenia claims Corsan Corvian Construction Company didn't send their best team for this project, rather their C team.

[Mher]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Iran should realise that its in her own benefit to side with Russo China Armenia road block than a turko Paki one ...there is no much that azeri can do to stop the inevitable ...chinese took already the road project ..everything is going accoring to the plans ..the turkic isolation will happen soon ...with the proper geopolitical moves armenia will become the center of caucasus next to the logical move of enlarging itself .

I like the optimism, I hope you're right. I also don't see Iran warming up to the Azeris so easily.

Very clever, the Chinese. Armenia is one of the few countries in Europe that can be influenced easily through the use of bribery. The entire goverment aparatus is corrupt and all the nation's assets are for sale at the correct price (by correct I mean not their correct value, but which corrupt person gets the price paid for the asset). However, no matter how corrupt Armenia's rulers are, blatant bribes can't be seen to be happening. So the bribe comes in the guise of infrastructure financing that can be redistibuted to and skimmed off by the bribe recipients. That's the way it works for Chinese financing in Africa. Imagine what Armenia's oligarchs could get from even 1% of that $3 billion (but it would be more like 10 to 15% as "profit" since they will get all the contracts). But what is there in Armenia that is worth $3 billion to China and which is still available for Armenia to give away? Certainly not the right to own and run a pointless railway carrying a fantasy cargo to an imaginary destination.

I sometimes read your posts purely for the entertainment value in your delusional mentality . I'm sure having the most important and basic form of access to your only reliably neighbor is pointless. Is this how all people in Scotland are? no wonder even with independence falling on your lap and the whole world rooting for you, you people are about to reject it

[bell-the-cat]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Chinese Investors Show Interest in Armenia-Iran Railway

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Chinese investors are ready to finance an ambitious $3 billion project to build a railway connecting Armenia to Iran that could be launched in 2016, according to the Armenian government.

Very clever, the Chinese. Armenia is one of the few countries in Europe that can be influenced easily through the use of bribery. The entire goverment aparatus is corrupt and all the nation's assets are for sale at the correct price (by correct I mean not their correct value, but which corrupt person gets the price paid for the asset). However, no matter how corrupt Armenia's rulers are, blatant bribes can't be seen to be happening. So the bribe comes in the guise of infrastructure financing that can be redistibuted to and skimmed off by the bribe recipients. That's the way it works for Chinese financing in Africa. Imagine what Armenia's oligarchs could get from even 1% of that $3 billion (but it would be more like 10 to 15% as "profit" since they will get all the contracts). But what is there in Armenia that is worth $3 billion to China and which is still available for Armenia to give away? Certainly not the right to own and run a pointless railway carrying a fantasy cargo to an imaginary destination.

[UrMistake]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Iran should realise that its in her own benefit to side with Russo China Armenia road block than a turko Paki one ...there is no much that azeri can do to stop the inevitable ...chinese took already the road project ..everything is going accoring to the plans ..the turkic isolation will happen soon ...with the proper geopolitical moves armenia will become the center of caucasus next to the logical move of enlarging itself .

[Mher]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Azerbaijan's attempt to kill off this project. I think there are very few things facing Armenia right now more important than making this project a reality and I believe Azerbaijan realizes this.


Southern Armenian Railway project depends on Iran’s position –Rasia chairman

YEREVAN, February 21. /ARKA/. Joseph Borkowski, the chairman of Dubai-based Rasia FZE Investment Company, granted in 2012 a 50-year concession by Armenian government to build and manage the 305-kilometer railway from Armenia to Iran, to be named the Southern Armenian Railway (SAR), said today the implementation of this project depends largely on Iran’s position.

Joseph Borkowski met yesterday in Yerevan with Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan to present the final results of a feasibility study of the project estimated to cost some $3.2 billion.

Speaking at a news conference Borkowski said there is a competing project – a railway that may be built from Iranian Kazvin to Azerbaijani Astara. “Iran understands that if it has two competing railways neither will be viable,’ he said.

He said there is another risk –Iran’s refusal to build its portion of the 470-kilometer railway, which would mainly pass through Armenian territory. In such a case Rasia may itself finance the construction of the Iranian section.

The high cost of the project is explained by mountainous terrain through which it is supposed to pass. Specifically, it will have 19.6 km-long 64 bridges and 60 tunnels of 102.3 kilometres. The railway is to run from Gagarin station in Armenia’s Gegharkunik province to Agarak in southern Syunik and may transport up to 25 million cargos a year.

According to an Armenian government statement, the Southern Armenia Railway will create the shortest transportation route from the ports of the Black Sea to the ports of the Persian Gulf and establish a major commodities transit corridor between Europe and the Persian Gulf region.

http://arka.am/en/news/economy/southern_armenian_railway_project_depends_on_iran_s_position_rasia_chairman_/#sthash.QemaCTWr.dpuf

[Mher]

Re: North-South Highway/Iran-Armenia Railway

Chinese Investors Show Interest in Armenia-Iran Railway

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Chinese investors are ready to finance an ambitious $3 billion project to build a railway connecting Armenia to Iran that could be launched in 2016, according to the Armenian government.

The 470-kilometer railway, which would mainly pass through Armenian territory, has been planned by the two neighboring states ever since the late 1990s. The project was formally approved by the Armenian and Iranian governments in 2009. But it has yet to get off the drawing board mainly because of their failure to attract funding for the Armenian section of the strategic transport link.

Rasia FZE, a little-known investment company based in Dubai, was granted in 2012 a 50-year concession to build and manage the 305-kilometer section to be named the Southern Armenian Railway (SAR). Rasia in turn contracted the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) group to conduct a feasibility study and recommend a cost-effective route for the railway.

Joseph Borkowski, the Rasia chairman, presented the final results of the study to Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan at a meeting in Yerevan on Tuesday. According to Sargsyan’s press office, the CCCC estimates the total cost of railway construction at $3.2 billion drams, a sum equivalent to Armenia’s entire 2014 state budget.

Armenia – Senior executives from the Dubai-based investment company Rasia and China Communications Construction Company meet Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in Yerevan, 18Feb2014.Armenia – Senior executives from the Dubai-based investment company Rasia and China Communications Construction Company meet Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in Yerevan, 18Feb2014.

“According to the submitted program, the construction work may start in 2016 and end in 2022,” the office said in a statement. It said Sargsyan stressed the need for drawing up a “roadmap” to the project’s implementation.

Sargsyan and Borkowski already discussed the CCCC’s findings when they met last September on the sidelines of an international economic forum held in the Chinese city of Dalian. A statement on that meeting released by Rasia said the government-controlled Chinese firm believes in the “strong economic viability and regional importance of the railway.”

“As the key missing link in the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Southern Armenia Railway will create the shortest transportation route from the ports of the Black Sea to the ports of the Persian Gulf,” said the statement. “The Southern Armenia Railway will establish a major commodities transit corridor between Europe and the Persian Gulf region, with conservative long-term traffic volume forecasts of 18.3 million tons per annum.”

The railway would mainly run through Armenia’s mountainous Syunik province bordering Iran. Hence the very high cost of construction, which has long raised doubts about its feasibility. “The railway will have 84 bridges spanning 19.6 kilometers and 60 tunnels of 102.3 kilometers, comprising 40 percent of the total project length,” Rasia said in September 2013.

Sargsyan’s office quoted Borkowski as saying on Tuesday that his Dubai-based company is already looking for international investors interested in the project. “It was pointed out that Chinese banks … have expressed readiness to finance 60 percent of the project,” it said without elaborating.

Armenian officials have previously referred to Russia as another potential source of funding. The Russian government and RZhD national rail company have not ruled out such possibility.

The issue was apparently on the agenda of September 2013 talks near Moscow between the Armenian and Russian presidents that were followed by the announcement of Armenia’s unexpected decision to join a Russian-led alliance of ex-Soviet statements. In a joint communique, they pledged “the continuation of joint efforts to realize infrastructure projects, including railway communication, as well as the construction of new logistical and communication routes.”

Still, the Russians have so far made no formal commitments on the Armenia-Iran rail link, which is also strongly supported by the Iranian government. The Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Mohammad Reisi, said earlier this month that the expensive project will feature large at the next meeting of an Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.

http://asbarez.com/119740/chinese-investors-show-interest-in-armenia-iran-railway/