Qazvin-Rasht railway in northern Iran is expected to come on stream by August 2017, predicted a senior Iranian government official.
Government spokesman and the head of the Management and Planning Organization of Iran, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, has said that the 164-kilometer railway line will be inaugurated prior to the end of President Hassan Rouhani's current term in office in August.
President Rouhani assumed office in August 2013 for a four-year term in office.
Nobakht, who was inspecting the progress of the railway line, said that the project will contribute to the country's economic development.
The railroad is a part of the North South Corridor which will eventually link Northern Europe to Southeast Asia via Iran and Azerbaijan.
In the initial stage, the railway line is expected to transport five million tons of cargo annually via the North-South Corridor and this will increase to over 10 million tons.
In addition to its international aspects, the corridor will significantly reduce transportation costs as well as increase trade between Iran and Azerbaijan.
