Insecurity stalls Afghanistan-Iran railway project

The 200-kilometer railway begins from Iran’s Khawaf city includes four phases.
Two phases of the project have been completed in Iran and work on the third that crosses Afghanistan border is stalled for the last one month and a half.
Mahdi Rohani, a spokesman for Afghanistan Transport Ministry, said that 95 percent of the third phase of the project had been completed and work on the remaining would start as security situation improves in Ghoryan district of Herat. The phase includes 57 kilometres.
Interior Ministry declined 1TV’s request for comment.
The fourth phase of the railway project is 87 kilometres and will run from Ghoryan district to Herat industrial township.
Afghanistan National Procurement Commission has approved the design and construction of the 44-km phase.
The Transport Ministry said that work on the phase would begin in a week.
Experts believe that the railway would help increase trade between Afghanistan and Europe.