DUSHANBE, October 20, Asia-Plus - The construction of the Shar-Shar tunnel in southern Tajikistan officially commenced today.  President Rahmonov today morning left for Norak to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the tunnel. 

Rahmonov telling the ceremony noted that residents of Tajikistan realize well a role of roads.  “But only after gaining independence we were able to implement projects to bring the country out of the transportation deadlock,” the president said, noting that some 94 percent ground shipments in Tajikistan are carried out automotive transport. 

He also noted that a Tajik-Afghan bridge across the Panj River in Khatlon will be put into operation next autumn.  According to him, all these transportation projects will assist Tajikistan to get neighboring markets.  

Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Lee Huelay also attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Shar-Shar tunnel.  He said that Tajikistan is an important partner for China, adding that along with the power-transmission line and the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway being constructed or rehabilitated in Tajikistan with participation of the Chinese side the Shar-Shar tunnel is the facility of statewide significance.  

China won the tender to build the tunnel and Beijing this year offered Tajikistan a grant and loan to fund the project.  An agreement was reached in Dushanbe in July 2005.  On July 21 2005, Tajik-Chinese talks in Dushanbe resulted in a second agreement on providing assistance for the construction. 

The 2.23-kilometer tunnel that will be built under the Shar-Shar pass, some 80 kilometers southeast of Dushanbe, on the highway from the Tajik capital to Kulob via Norak, will link Dushanbe with the country’s east.  The estimated budget for the project is US $37 million.  China is investing some US $30 million in the construction, which is scheduled to be finished in 34 months.