DUSHANBE, January 6, Asia-Plus On January 5, President Emomali Rahmonov presided over a meeting with participation of Deputy Prime Minister Asadullo Ghulomov and heads of the country’s energy ministry and organizations, presidential press service reported. 

According to presidential press service, the meeting focused on the construction of all facilities of statewide importance, including cascade of Sangtuda hydropower plants, Roghun hydroelectric power station, and preparations for the construction of Shar-Shar and Shahriston tunnels.  

Deputy Prime Minister Ghulomov telling the meeting noted that estimated budget for the construction of the Shahriston tunnel 6.8 kilometers in length was US$68 million.  “On completion of the construction of the Anzob and Shahriston tunnels a length of the highway from Dushanbe to Khujand will decrease by 42.3 kilometers and the time of journey will decrease by six hours,” Ghulomov noted.  

According to him, putting three strategic tunnels, including the Shar-Shar tunnel, willow annually saving 49 million Somonis, presidential press service reported.  

During the meeting it was also noted that the first stage of the construction of the road Dushanbe-Jirgatol-Sarytash ongoing and preparatory work on the Nurobod-Tojikobod section of this road was in full swing.    

The president stressed once again the strategic importance of this road for Tajikistan and the Central Asian region as a whole.        

Rahmonov also demanded at the meeting that the spinning mills in Khatlon and Sughd provinces should be also accelerated.  He also pointed to the necessity of paying special attention to riverbank protection works at the Chubek water-intake facility and speeding up the construction of jubilee objects in Kulob