Armenian minister and ADB representative discuss construction of second section of M6 highway

ArmInfo. On April 11, Gagik Beglaryan, Armenian Minister of Transport and Communication, and Cesar Lawrence, Asian Development Bank Deputy Director at the ADB Armenia Resident Office, discussed construction operations of the second section of the M6 Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian border highway. The construction is being carried out with the financial support of the Asian Development Bank.   

The official website of the Armenian Ministry of Transport and Communication reports that the interlocutors also discussed the construction of the first section of the Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgian border highway. International tenders have already been announced to implement the construction operations and provide technical supervision services. The deadline for submission of tender applications is May 20, and the deadline for submission of applications for participation in the first phase of the technical supervision tender is April 19.

The 556km North-South corridor will ensure access to the Black Sea and European countries via the territory of Armenia (Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-Ashtarak-Gyumri-Bavra) and Georgia. The USD 1 million investment project aims to link the north (border with Georgia) to the south of Armenia (border with Iran) through the transport services meeting high international standards, as well as to ensure the country's entry into international markets. The North-South corridor will be a concrete highway. The Asian Development Bank has lent USD 500 million to Armenia. Another USD 150 million will be provided by the Eurasian Development Bank. Armenia has also raised EUR 60 million from the European Investment Bank. The construction of the corridor is to be completed in 2019. According to the Armenian Government's preliminary estimations, the North-South project will allow saving 2.5 USD per 1 hour of travel time per passenger and 1 USD per 1 hour of transportation of 1 ton of cargo. The Armenian authorities expect the project to enable the country to mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey, to become a transit country and to join the Black Sea Belt Highway.

Armenia joined the ADB in 2005.