January 10, 2011 - 15:06 AMT
Binali Yildirim: Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad construction continues successfully

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad construction continues in accordance with international standards, Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim told a session of the railway structures in Beijing.

“The implementation of the project of BTK railway line started in 2007 and envisages rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 178-kilometer Marabda – Akhalkalaki line in Georgia, construction of a new railway line from Akhalkalaki to Kars station extending to 98 km. The 30-kilometer highway Akhalkalaki-Kartsakhi (Turkish border) is located in the Georgian direction and 68-kilometer section extends from Kartkhahi in the Turkish side to Kars,” Yildirim said.

In addition, the Marmarai railway tunnel to ensure direct connection with the European railway network is under construction in Istanbul under the Bosporus strait in line with the project of the Turkish railroad development. After the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project is completed, the railroad will become an important railway corridor to connect Europe, Caucasus and Asia”, news.az cited the Turkish Minister as saying.