Activities in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is divided into north and south by a mountain range that traverses the country. Mountains and rivers compose 90 percent of the land, posing difficulties for transporting goods and human travel. Because Tajikistan is a landlocked country, any plan for development must therefore include not only consideration of its domestic road networks, but also those roads that serve as freight routes for foreign-bound goods. The roads targeted for priority improvement in this project are also included in Tajikistan’s 2001 to 2005 Long-term Transportation Development Plan.

Tajikistan’s total freight transport amounted to 1.44 billion ton-kilometers in 2000, of which 92.1 percent was rail, 7.6 percent road and 0.3 percent air. In addition, travel accounted for 200 billion passenger-kilometers in 2000, 3.7 percent of which was rail, 81.2 percent road and 15.1 percent air. It is predicted that freight transport by road will increase if further road improvements are made, which should contribute to Tajikistan’s economic development. Unfortunately, although the traffic networks are expected to meet future demand in the mid-term, because facilities are aging noticeably, a system to provide repair and maintenance is urgently needed.

Against this backdrop, the government of Japan is partnering with the Asian Development Bank and the US to improve nearly 190 kilometers of Tajikistan’s A384 national highway stretching from the capital of Dushanbe to Nizhniy Pyandzh on the Afghanistan border. This will provide economic stimulus by reducing the time required to reach the Indian Ocean via Afghanistan as well as raising an awareness of how important transportation is to Tajikistan’s development.

Furthermore, the economic benefits are expected to spread into Afghanistan, beyond Tajikistan’s borders. As a part of the Asian Highway Network, this road will also facilitate the movement of goods in general among Central Asian countries.

Including road development within the town of Dusty, just over 27 kilometers of road work will be performed between Dusty and Nizhniy Pyandzh. The US will link the road with a bridge spanning the Panj (or Pyandzh) River on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. The Exchange of Notes made on September 5, 2006.

Phase I: Design, construction and construction management -- 12 months

• Main line: 8.3 kilometers
• Urban roadway: 3.6 kilometers
• Limitation on funding: 595 million yen

Phase II: Design review, bidding (4.5 months), construction management -- 15.5 months　

• Main line: 15.4 kilometers
• Limitation on funding: 737 million yen