Iran, Afghanistan initiate setting up cross-border railway in Herat
EghtesadOnline: Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi and Afghan Minister of Finance Eklil Ahmad Hakimi and Minister of Public Works Mahmoud Baligh initiated setting up Herat-Khaf railway on Iran-Afghan on Wednesday.
In inauguration ceremony in border district called 'Candle & Blade' Akhundi and Eklil Hakimi in their speeches underlined expansion of bilateral cooperation.
According to IRNA, the two ministers called the project important for exchanging commercial goods in the region and between the two countries.
Hakimi said that the third phase of rail installation will end in next few days until the city of Ghorian and then the fourth phase will start by financial aids of Italy to the airport of Herat city.
The Afghan Finance Minister Hakimi said that from Herat airport to Turkmenistan border the rail installation will be done in upcoming years by financial support of Japan and the Asian Development Bank.
Public Works Minister Mahmoud Baligh said in the ceremony that Afghanistan government intends to develop railway and wants to have trade corridor in the region.
Distance from Khaf to Herat by railway is 191 kilometers, from which 114 kilometers is on the Afghan soil and 77 kilometers on the Iranian territory.