ArmInfo.Armenia and Iran officially announced the start of construction of the Kajaran Tunnel as part of the North-South international transport corridor.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the official ceremony to mark the start of construction was attended by Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyed Hamid Pourmohammadi, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia David Khudatyan, representatives of the diplomatic corps, members of the National Assembly, and others.
The 7.2-kilometer tunnel will be equipped with all necessary modern systems, including automated power supply and distribution systems, lighting, ventilation, video surveillance, fire detection and extinguishing, as well as radio broadcasting systems, evacuation alarms and road signs, ventilation and emergency exit protection, SOS stations, and a control center.
The road inside the tunnel will have two traffic lanes and sidewalks with a total width of 10.6 meters. Additionally, to ensure emergency stopping of vehicles, the tunnel roadway will be widened by an additional 3 meters every 250 meters.
An emergency exit will also be constructed under the tunnel to facilitate evacuation in case of emergency.
The project will include the construction of approximately 4 km of access roads, connecting the tunnel to the existing road network. Once completed, the existing route will be shortened by approximately 14 km, the average vehicle speed will increase from 50 to 80 km/h, and travel time will be reduced by approximately 40 minutes.
The tunnel will bypass the Meghri Pass, located at an altitude of 2,535 meters above sea level, significantly improving road safety and eliminating difficulties in maintaining passability during the winter.
The Kajaran Tunnel construction project will be implemented with a $200 million loan from the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development and approximately $195 million in co-financing from the Republic of Armenia.
Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2026 and be completed within six years. The contract for the construction of the Kajaran Tunnel and access roads will be signed with a joint venture between the Iranian companies Abad Rahan Pars International Group and Tunnel Sadd Ariana.
According to the Iranian Embassy in Armenia, during the ceremony, representatives of the two countries emphasized the importance of developing the road from the Norduz border crossing to Yerevan as part of the North-South International Transport Corridor. They noted its key importance for the further expansion of trade, transport links, and transit traffic between Armenia and Iran.
Following the ceremony, the officials also toured certain sections of the road under construction.
