KHUJAND, October 21, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Visit of a commission to the Sughd province for inspection and formal acceptance of the Sughd section of the Dushanbe-Chanak road concluded at the end of last week.   

During its three-day work in the province, the commission made a number of proposals on implementation of the Dushanbe-Chanak road rehabilitation project. 

According to Mrozzoali Mansourov, manager of the project’s section 4, the commission’s proposals and comments concerned installation of road signs and lighting poles.  

The commission members included representatives of the Chinese company implementing the project, as well as representatives of Tajikistan’s ministry of transport and traffic police directorate. 

Rehabilitation of the Sughd section of the Dushanbe-Chanak road is nearing completion, the 

Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway rehabilitation project, aimed at improving road communications between Dushanbe, Khujand and the Uzbek border town of Chanak, was launched in summer 2006.  Chinese company won the tender and Beijing in 2006 offered Tajikistan grants and loans to fund the project.  A total project cost is estimated at some $296 million, including $281.2 million provided by the Chinese government in a form of a long-term loan.  The loan carries a 20-year period and an interest rate of 2 percent per annum.  The remaining some $14 million are provided by the government of Tajikistan.