Wednesday, April 10 2024 12:42

ArmInfo.The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to finance the northern section of the  Sisian-Kajaran road of the North-South transport corridor. This was stated during a meeting between the ADB delegation, headed by the head of the Armenian mission, Don Lambert, and the Deputy Minister of  Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Armenia, Kristine Galechyan.

The parties discussed the possibilities of expanding cooperation, in  particular in the development of road infrastructure. It was noted  that the project for the construction of the Sisian-Kajaran road of  the North- South road corridor is in the focus of attention of ADB  representatives. In particular, Bank representatives highly  appreciated bilateral cooperation in this area.

Noting the strategic importance of the program, Kristine Galechyan  expressed gratitude to the Asian Development Bank for its willingness  to expand cooperation.

It is reported that during the meeting the parties also discussed the  prospects for implementing the program for the overhaul of the  Pushkin and Dilijan tunnels.

The interlocutors came to an agreement at the next meeting to discuss  in detail the project for the construction of the Cape Reservoir and  the work carried out as part of cooperation in other areas.

The new 60-kilometer Sisian-Kajaran road, which will be of the second  technical category, will pass through difficult mountainous terrain  and will include 27 bridges with a total length of 4.7 km and 9  tunnels with a total length of 12.5 km (the longest is Bargushat  tunnel, approximately 8.6 km long). From the total package of  financial assistance from the EU to Armenia in the amount of 2.6  billion euros, 600 million euros will be allocated for the  construction of the Kajaran-Sisian road in the next five years.

Another $150 million will be provided by the Eurasian Fund for  Stabilization and Development. A section of road 60 km long will have  a design speed of 80 km/h. The North-South project will reduce the  distance from the Iranian border to the Georgian border from 556 to  490 kilometers. The road will significantly facilitate access to the  Black Sea not only for Armenia, but also for Iran. The project will  provide access to the Black Sea and European countries through the  territory of Armenia (Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-  Ashtarak-Gyumri-Bavra) and Georgia. Construction of the corridor was  originally scheduled to be completed in 2019.

The cost of the program was constantly revised upward. Meanwhile, in  September 2012, when construction of the highway began, the amount  quoted by representatives of the Armenian government was several  times less - $962 million; today we are talking about investments  worth about $3 billion. Note that ADB has been working with Armenia  since 2005 of the year. As of April 2023, the Bank implemented 77  projects in Armenia worth about $1.7 billion, which were aimed at  developing transport, financial, energy, water sectors,  infrastructure, etc.