Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia launch this billion-euro project

The line, which includes 105km of new roads, will have the capacity to transport a million passengers and 6.5 million tonnes of goods. This capacity will increase to up to three million passengers and 17 million tonnes of goods by 2034.

The 826km railway project (513 km) linking Baku (Azerbedgean's town) with the northeastern province of Kars through Tbilisi was launched in 2007, and construction began in 2008, reports “Hriyet Daily News”, broadcast Periscopi.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Karas (BTK) railway project is a crucial step for the future of the region, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the inauguration ceremony in Baku on October 30th.

The most important <x0Picka of the Middle Corridor project has been fulfilled with the first BTK” railway service, Erdogan said, along with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgia Prime Minister Giorgi Kvilashvili.

“Baku-Tbilisi-Karas is part of the Silk Grand Road and it is important that we implement this project using our funds,” he added.

“We are declaring the creation of an ongoing railway connection from London to China,” he said.

The three countries are connected by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzeum gas line, but trade ties between Turkey and the Caucasus region are limited.

The new railway promises to secure an economic boost in the region. The new Union will reduce travel time between China and Europe to about 15 days, which is more than twice the route across the sea.

Trains can leave the cities of China, cross to Kazakhstan in Khorgos Gateau, transport across the Caspian Sea by ferry to the New Port of Baku, and then load directly to BTK to head to Europe.

Erdogan said the railway contribution to the region would not simply be economic, but <x0-project would bring political peace, security, while socially would bring prosperity. ”

For his part, Aliyev described the Baku-Tbilisi-Karas line as a “historical global project”, praising the funding of the project from its resources in the region.

This project will bring our countries closer together, play its role in ensuring stability and security in the region, enhance our economic capacity and have a lot of funds”, he said, adding that the project was possible only thanks to the joint efforts of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

“We have not received any help from anyone, we have not received any loans, we have built this railway at the expense of our local opportunities and we have put it into effect today,” said Aliyev, who was quoted by the Azerbaijann local media agencies.

The total cost of the project increased to more than $1 billion from an initial estimate of around $400m, Serbia” reported. Most of these funds came from Azerbaijan's state oil fund.

Several European countries have expressed interest in this project and Azerbaijan is in talks with them, Aliyev said, adding that Kazakhstan and other countries in Central Asia are interested in carrying their goods through BTK.

Kvirikashvili said the project was a “urre between Asia and Europe”.

This line will connect economies and people together, today a new Eurasian bridge is operating... The project will have a boost for tourism and new jobs will be created”, he added.. /Periscopi/