Russian firm receives additional 37 km of key North-South rail corridor project
Iran has signed an agreement to hand over an additional 37 kilometers of the Rasht-Astara railway project to Russia’s Caspian Service company, bringing the total length of the route delivered to the firm to 162 km, as the two countries step up cooperation on the strategic rail link.
The agreement was signed as part of ongoing efforts to complete the railway, a key component of the North-South rail corridor, according to ILNA.
Houshang Bazvand, head of Iran’s Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructure Company and a deputy roads minister, said speeding up construction of the Rasht-Astara line was a priority for the president and the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.
He described the project as strategically important to bilateral relations with Russia and a significant milestone in international cooperation on regional transport infrastructure.
A previous agreement signed last year covered the handover of 125 km of the route. The latest 37-km addition brings the total to 162 km.
Bazvand said the progress would pave the way for larger commercial agreements and diplomatic and economic visits in the near future to finalize further deals.
He also said technical studies were being carried out carefully inside Iran, with qualified domestic contractors available to carry out the construction work. He added that there were no major obstacles or concerns over the project’s implementation.
Alongside the route handover agreement, the two sides signed a separate contract for geotechnical studies to assess geological and infrastructure conditions along the route and provide a sound technical basis for the work.
A director of Caspian Service said the Russian side was ready to advance the studies as quickly as possible. Ten geotechnical drilling teams are currently working along the route, he said.
He also praised the quality and technical expertise of Iranian consultants, expressing hope that the completion of field studies would pave the way for finalizing the contract.