KABUL: A contract for the technical study of a 200-kilometre railway line between Torghundi and Herat City was signed between Afghanistan and Canada Rail on Monday.
Public Works Minister Mahmood Baligh said Afghanistan would be transformed into a transit trade hub once the railway line was constructed. Implementation of the project is part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme.
CAREC Program is a partnership among 10 countries and six multilateral development partners, working to promote development, leading to accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction.
Speaking after the signing of the contract, Baligh said the Torghundi-Herat railroad was a part of the Lajaward Transit Route, which would connect Afghanistan with Europe through Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
He said the technical and economic study would take six months to complete and the project would cost $1,603,500 provided by the Asian Development Bank.
The minister added said the railway line would stretch from Herat to Iran. The project will help boost regional tradeand ensure the swift movement of goods and services.
