President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered the completion of a number of key railway facility projects before 2025, the CEO of Uzbekistan Railways Zufar Narzullaev told the Uzbekistan 24.
According to him, the head of state ordered to complete the laying of tracks for new high-speed trains in Navoi-Bukhara route this year, and by September 1, to:
- overhaul and complete the of the Nukus-Miskin line electrification peoject;
- complete the Tashkent-Parkent and Tashkent-Urgut railway projects.
In addition, the president ordered to enter into a contract with the Chinese CRRC Group for the supply of 50 new shunting diesel locomotives, since, according to Narzullaev, 91% of the existing fleet is outdated. This year, eight diesel locomotives and four electric locomotives have already been purchased, which will be delivered to Uzbekistan.
"He also instructed to focus on digitalization, personnel training, implementing dual education and joint projects with transport universities. We will fulfill these instructions," added Zufar Narzullaev.
The first deputy chairman of the company, Hikmatilla Rakhmetov, noted in an interview that one of the tasks set by the president is to strengthen new international corridors. In particular, this concerns increasing the volume of container transportation along the China-Europe route using multimodal routes and the so-called "block trains."
"That is, through China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and through Turkmenistan - both to Iran and across the Caspian Sea to Turkey and European countries – the president ordered to enhance multimodal cargo transportation, providing the highest service on the shortest routes, reducing the costs," he said.
The instructions also include the task of expanding the railway network in the provinces, including in small towns and large villages where there is no railway infrastructure yet.
According to Rakhmetov, reports on the Tashkent-Parkent railway project progress (via Kibray district) were presented to the president.
