DUSHANBE, March 17, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan’s State Committee for Construction and Architecture has approved a project for the construction of the Shar-Shar tunnel.  

According to information from the Ministry of Transport, the project was submitted for consideration to the Committee in early February. 

Under the approved project the tunnel will be 2.25 kilometers in length.  

On March 15, Tajik Ministry of Transport and China’s Institute for Planning and Rafting Projects signed an initial agreement on conducting a feasibility study for the construction access roads from southern and northern sides to the tunnel.  

Referring to the drop in the transit time by forty minutes, the source said that the estimated budget for the construction of the Shar-Shar tunnel was US$38 million and the Chinese side intended to provide US$30 million.  The tunnel is supposed to be finished in 38 months.