Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have signed a trilateral agreement to build the Trans-Afghan Railway along the Termez-Naybabad-Kharlachi-Karachi route. The 647-kilometer project, estimated to cost $4.6 billion, is intended to provide the shortest access to seaports for Central Asian countries, Gazeta.uz reports.
The launch of the railway is expected to reduce cargo delivery times from the current 35-40 days to 3-5 days, while significantly reducing transportation costs. According to the Uzbek Ministry of Transport, the railway will be able to transport up to 3 million tons of cargo per year in the first phase, and this figure could increase to 15-20 million tons by 2040. The Deputy Minister of Transport noted the corridor's enormous potential: road freight volumes along this route have already increased from 300,000 to 1 million tons per year, confirming the route's demand.
Technically, the project involves using a 1520mm gauge track and connecting to Pakistan's rail network via the Kohat section. The parties have set ambitious deadlines: the feasibility study should take only six months, while construction itself is scheduled to begin in 2025 and be completed within five years.
The project could create up to 5 million jobs and open up vast markets for the region. However, significant challenges remain: the investor consortium is still being formed, and official recognition by the Afghan government and ensuring security along the route remain key to attracting major international financial institutions. Nevertheless, the high level of interest from both parties allows for the design and partner search processes to be expedited.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 19, 2025