Chinese contractors begin building Tehran-Shomal Freeway

According to him, of the $220 billion required financing for the project, 15 percent will be paid to the Chinese side probably within the next coming days. “We are doing our best to accomplish the job before the end of the incumbent cabinet’s tenure in 2009,” the minister also added.

The finance agreement with the Chinese contractor is limited only to the building of seven sections of the project that is about 32 kilometers - the distance between Tehran to Doab Sharestanak township that is also called the First Region of the project - he further explained. “However,” he added, “five sections of the freeway located in the northern part of the project – the Fourth Region, starting from Dasht-e Nazir to Chalus in Mazandaran Province that is about 20 kilometers - is being built by domestic contractors.”

He further commented that at present 140 Chinese engineers are working in the construction team.

Construction of the huge project of Tehran-Shomal Freeway, sometimes referred to as a national project, has been facing difficulties for some time. However when completed, it would significantly shorten the current distance from the capital Tehran to the Caspian Sea littoral cities.

RA/MA

END

MNA