BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 6. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
(BTK) railway route, a vital component of the Middle Corridor, will
increase its transportation capacity to five million tons per year
after modernization on May 20, 2024, a fivefold increase from its
previous capacity, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) said on social
networks, Trend reports.
ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov announced the completion of repair
and expansion efforts along the 184-kilometer stretch of the BTK
railway line in Georgia. Following these enhancements, BTK’s annual
throughput capacity surged from one million tons to five million
tons.
He highlighted that in late 2022, following a thorough
assessment of the BTK’s performance after five years of operation,
during which it was limited to transporting no more than one
million tons of cargo annually, a decision was made to
significantly expand the railway route. This decision accounted for
the continuous rise in cargo transportation along the Middle
Corridor.
“The Georgian segment was acknowledged as a challenging area for
expansion. Despite the difficult terrain, with work in certain
locations conducted at altitudes of up to 2,400 meters above sea
level, an intensive work schedule was implemented,” Rustamov
said.
In addition to laying down the railway line, the project
encompassed installing a 10 kW electric line spanning 172
kilometers, laying a 338-kilometer fiber-optic cable, and
undertaking essential maintenance on the roads adjacent to the
route.
“Starting May 20, freight transportation will commence on the
upgraded BTK railway line. The primary aim of modernizing this
railway was to enhance the Middle Corridor’s competitiveness and
elevate the railway route’s status as a key freight thoroughfare
within this corridor. I believe this development will position
Azerbaijan as a pivotal transportation hub along the East-West
route,” he emphasized.
In his opinion, the importance of BTK in accelerating the
delivery of cargo from China and Central Asian countries to Europe
through the territory of Azerbaijan is significant.
“ADY is poised to handle the majority of cargo traffic between
Asia and the West, utilizing the upgraded BTK railway line in both
directions. We are prepared to engage in international competition
within the realm of cargo transportation,” the ADY chair said.
Azerbaijan has invested over $100 million in the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars expansion project, providing a loan for
Georgia.
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