DUSHANBE, May 10, Asia-Plus -- The Anzob pass linking the northern province of Sughd to Dushanbe may possibly open for traffic in mid-May, according to information from the Ministry of Transport.  

The source says a special commission comprising representatives from the ministry, traffic police and hydro-meteorological agency visited the pass on May 6 to closely monitor the situation.  

According to the commission’s estimates, warmer temperatures have increased the risk of avalanches that makes snow-clearing work on the pass difficult.   As it had been reported earlier, it was supposed to open the Anzob pass for traffic in early May but now it has been decided to postpone it to mid-May.  The work on clearing the pass and nearby sections of the highway from Dushanbe to Khujand of snow is still ongoing, according to the source.  

Last year, the Anzob pass was officially opened for traffic on May 25.   

As far as the Khaburabot pass in Gorno Badakhshan is concerned, the snow-cleaning work there is under way and it is supposed to open for traffic in late May.  This pass links Gorno Badakhshan to Dushanbe via the Rasht Valley (eastern Tajikistan).