TEHRAN (Iran News) – Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Ghasemi says with some contracts are underway to be signed in the field of transportation for completing its infrastructures and soon the contract for the Shalamcheh-Basra Railway network will be signed with Iraq and it will link Iran to the Mediterranean Sea.
Speaking in a ceremony for operation of railway devices, Ghasemi announced the news and said with signing the contract with Iraqis Iran will be linked to the Mediterranean Sea, adding that the country needs to boost its infrastructures in the field of transportation especially for the transit sector and above all rail transit, and to this end, talks are underway for signing some contracts.
He went on to sway that some time ago Iran tentatively shipped a consignment from the route of India to Finland for testing the new corridor of Iran-Finland and it took only 21 days while if this cargo was to be shipped by sea, it would have taken at least 3 months. Ghasemi added that recently some Pakistani trucks tentatively passed from Iran to reach Europe, adding that he believes these transit routes can be a source of income for the country.
The minister went on to say that 526 locally produced railway fleets were put into operation on Tuesday.
He stressed that infrastructure in main corridors should be strengthened.
Ghasemi added that a transformation plan is underway to develop the country’s transportation.
He assured that Iran would develop significantly in transportation in the next few years.
Railway CEO Miad Salehi also pointed out that rail transport is an essential route for economic growth, saying with the support of the President and the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, active wagons on the railway are increasing.
