Iraq today announced plans to connect the port of Grand Faw, in the country’s oil-rich south, to its border with Turkey by rail and road. The plan, which will cost about 17 billion dollars, aims to revive the Iraqi economy after years of war and crisis. Reuters reports.
Appropriately dubbed Development Road, the project aims to turn Iraq into a transit hub, significantly reducing travel times between Asia and Europe. Iraq also wants to compete against the Suez Canal.
“The Development Road is not just a road for carrying goods or passengers,” said director general Farhan al-Fartousi of the Iraqi National Port Authority. “This road opens the door to developing hard-to-reach areas in Iraq.”
High-speed line
If it is the Iraqi government’s turn, a high-speed line will be built, links to local industrial centers and an energy component with which to transport oil or gas.
If Iraq is able to carry out the plans, this would be a major improvement over the existing and outdated transportation network. Iraq’s rail network currently operates on only a few routes, including slow-running oil trains and a single overnight train running from Baghdad to Basra. The route, which covers about 500 kilometres, takes between ten and twelve hours.
Source: BNR
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