Tehran: “The construction of the Rasht-Astara railway project will begin next year,” said Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, APA’s correspondent dispatched to Iran reports. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that serious steps are already being taken to acquire the lands that will be under the railway. He stated that half of the total 162 km of land, which amounts to 80 km, has already been acquired, and the remaining part will be acquired by March next year.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Russian side has commenced geological exploration work. The information provided by the Russian side indicates that the design will be executed in stages. Practical construction work is expected to begin in 2026. If construction starts in 2026 and is completed within three years, the railway is projected to operate at full capacity by approximately 2030.

The agreement with the Russian government specifies that from January 2028, the transportation of 5 million tons of cargo will be ensured at the initial stage. This figure is expected to increase to 15 million tons in the future, bringing significant income to the Azerbaijani economy. The project is of interest to any country involved in transporting transit cargo and is anticipated to offer substantial benefits to Azerbaijan from a geopolitical perspective.