Russia and Uzbekistan agree to build Trans-Afghan railway
Russia and Uzbekistan Take Steps Towards Trans-Afghan Railway Project
Russia and Uzbekistan have recently signed an agreement to kickstart the Trans-Afghan railway project, a move that is expected to have significant implications for regional connectivity. The agreement was signed between the Ministries of Transport of both countries, along with their respective national railway companies – Russian Railways (RZD) and Uzbekistan Railways.
As per the terms of the agreement, specialized project institutions from Russia will collaborate with their Uzbek counterparts until 2025 to develop sections of the feasibility study for the construction of the railway. This will involve analyzing projected freight volumes and assessing the economic viability of the agreed-upon routes.
Two specific routes have been identified for the project:
1. Mazar-I-Sharif – Herat – Dilorom – Khanhar – Chaman
2. Termez – Naibabad – Logar – Kharlachi
This initiative comes on the heels of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan extending their agreement on the use of the Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif railway, which enhances bilateral cooperation in the realm of regional connectivity.
Experts at the Eurasian Development Bank have conducted an assessment of the potential Trans-Afghan corridor, which aims to connect the railway networks of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The estimated cost of the ambitious project stands at $4.8 billion.
With these recent developments, it is clear that both Russia and Uzbekistan are committed to fostering greater connectivity in the region through the Trans-Afghan railway project. This initiative holds the potential to open up new avenues for trade and cooperation among the participating nations.
