Monday, September 25 2017 19:20

ArmInfo. Construction of 1 km.  of the Ashtarak-Lanjik road  ssector  of the North-South transport corridor will cost $ 3.5 million, the head of the Asian Development Bank's office in Armenia, Shane Rosenthal, said in an interview with Azatutyun radio, comparing it as 1 km. already completed segments Yerevan-Ashtarak and Yerevan-Artashat costing  $ 2 million.

Regarding the remaining 350 km - these are sections of Artashat-Meghri and Gyumri- Bavra, he added that today there are no specific programs for the construction of unfinished sites, and the Asian Development Bank has not received any request  for financing these works.

Initially, it was planned to complete the construction in 2016, but even today, authorized officials avoid calling the specific date for completion of this program.

It should be noted that Armenia has been a member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) since 2005, and from that same year in Armenia there is an ADB representation.  As of today, the Bank has approved 25 loan programs for a total cost of $ 1.19 billion, provided technical assistance through 24 grants totaling $ 15.2 million. In 2017, the Asian Development Bank will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

To note, the North-South 556km highway will be laid via the Armenian towns of Meghri-Kapan-Goris- Yerevan- Ashtarak- Gyumri-Bavra and enter the territory of Georgia on Akhaltsikhe-Batumi section, which will settle some transport problems of Armenia.  This will be a four-lane motorway of reinforced concrete extending from the Armenian border and Iran to the Georgian port Batumi. The road corridor will facilitate improving the road connection with the two neighbors of Armenia: Iran and Georgia, providing access to international trade routes and markets.  Armenia raised $500mln loan from the Asian Development Bank for the project that is estimated at $1 billion.  Eurasian Development Bank is ready to provide $150 million.  Armenia raised $60 million from the European investment Bank.  Due to the project, the overland communication Europe-Caucasus-Asia will be improved. The project will be completed by 2019. It will allow Armenia to soften the consequences of the blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey and to join the Black Sea ring highway. Corsan Corvian Spanish company has won the tenders for construction of the first sections of the road, Chinese Sinohydro Corporation has won the tender for construction of the Lanjik- Gyumri section in north of Armenia.