Akhalkalaki: Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, has acclaimed the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway as the most competitive transit route connecting the Caspian and Black seas. The statement was made during the official commissioning ceremony of the BTK railway line after its modernization at the Akhalkalaki station in Georgia.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the BTK railway was initially opened in October 2017 when the presidents of Azerbaijan, Trkiye, and Georgia gathered at Alat Port. This event marked a new era in Eurasian connectivity. However, Minister Nabiyev noted that the launch was merely the beginning, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing investment and political commitment to maintain the corridor's strategic significance.

Azerbaijan has adhered to this commitment by investing heavily in the 184-kilometer section of the line within Georgian territory. This extensive modernization included the reconstruction of 13 railway stations, 55 bridges, 8 traction substations, and over 320 buildings and engineering structures, executed in five phases. Minister Nabiyev highlighted that this was not a standard repair undertaking but a calculated move to enhance the BTK as the pivotal component of the Middle Corridor.

The outcomes of these efforts are significant, with the railway's carrying capacity increasing fivefold to 5 million tons per year. This development reinforces the BTK's status as the most competitive transit route between the Caspian and Black seas, fulfilling its role as a key player in regional connectivity.