On September 27, six road projects of international and national significance, which are being constructed, renovated, and paved within the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province, were presented to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Leader of the Nation, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon.

The first phase of the reconstruction of the Rushon–Varshez highway, covering the section from Dashti Shipad to Pastkhuf, will extend for 82.2 kilometers. The project forms part of the Dushanbe–Kulma–People’s Republic of China border international transport corridor. The road will be constructed with funding from the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and through the attraction of foreign investment.

The Project Implementation Center for the Reconstruction of the Dushanbe–Chanak Highway is currently conducting the process of selecting consulting and contracting companies for the construction of the Shipad–Pastkhuf section.

The second phase of the reconstruction of the Rushon–Varshez highway will cover an 80-kilometer section from Pastkhuf village in Rushon district to Turbat village in Shughnon district.

Implementation of the first and second phases of the Rushon–Varshez highway reconstruction project will make it possible to pave the roads from Dushanbe to Khorugh, improve transport safety, shorten travel times, reduce the cost of transporting goods and products, promote regional trade, and increase Tajikistan’s transit potential along the international transport corridor.

President Emomali Rahmon instructed the relevant officials of ministries and agencies, as well as workers and specialists, to ensure high-quality completion of the construction work, make full use of available opportunities to attract investment for the construction of other sections of the road, and begin construction as planned.

Paving of the Shohon–Zighar road section, the road in the center of Rushon district, and the Khorugh–Roshtqala road will be carried out as part of the implementation of the projects.

The 34-kilometer Shohon–Zighar section of the Dushanbe–Khorugh–People’s Republic of China border highway will be paved.

It should be recalled that the Shohon–Zighar section was commissioned in 2011, and some parts of the road have deteriorated during its 15 years of operation. The paving project will also include the removal of rockfalls and debris and the restoration of damaged sections of the route.

The road in the center of Rushon district will be reconstructed over a length of 20 kilometers, creating improved conditions for traffic in accordance with established requirements.

The total length of the Khorugh–Roshtqala road is 37 kilometers. Along the Shohdara River, the road will be upgraded to meet the requirements for the movement of vehicles and the transportation of goods and products. Excavation work, removal of rock and earth masses, construction of retaining walls, reinforcement of the riverbank, and measures to ensure traffic safety are planned as part of the project.

A feasibility study and design of the Khorugh–Ishkoshim highway are currently underway with the aim of attracting investment and commencing construction in the future. According to the preliminary plan, the total length of the road will be 104 kilometers, with a width of 12 meters for vehicle traffic.

The Khorugh–Ishkoshim road is considered one of the important strategic and tourism routes of Badakhshan. Its reconstruction will improve transport connectivity, enhance road safety, and contribute to economic and social development.

Overall, under the six projects presented to the Head of State in Khorugh, a total of 358 kilometers of roads of international and national significance will be constructed, reconstructed, and paved in the cities and districts of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in the coming years by the Project Implementation Center for the Reconstruction of the Dushanbe–Chanak Highway and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan.

As part of the Government’s continued efforts to implement the instructions of the Head of State effectively, reconstruction of the Yazgulom Valley road is also underway. Earthwork, grading, and paving with stone have already been completed along the 34-kilometer route reaching the final village of the valley in Vanj district, with 16 kilometers already paved. The remaining 16 kilometers will also be paved. This local road is being constructed as part of the Qalai Khumb–Vanj–entrance to Rushon highway reconstruction project.

It was also reported that, within the framework of the construction of the China–Tajikistan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye–Europe multimodal road, construction and reconstruction of a 90-kilometer section of the Murghob–Kulma road and the Kulma–Qarosu border crossing are expected to begin in the near future.

The construction of roads, bridges, and tunnels by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has made it possible to ensure year-round traffic along the Dushanbe–Khorugh–People’s Republic of China border international corridor, provide local residents with access to high-quality road and transport services, and increase international freight transportation through the territory of Tajikistan.