Terms of putting into commission the railway line Shar - Ust-Kamenogorsk are reduced - Ministry of transport and communication

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty, June 20, 07/ - Railway line Shar (Charsk) - Ust-Kamenogorsk may be put into commission in the beginning of year 2008, informed on Wednesday the press-service of Ministry of transport and communication of Kazakhstan. According to the delivered press-release, during the working visit to Eats- Kazakhstan region, head of Ministry of transport and communication Serik Akhmetov had met the management of company - concessionaire - Dosjan temir joly JSC, with which he had discussed the course of works for building of the given railway line. By opinion of sides the adjusted rate of works lets to speak about significant reduction of terms of building. Thus, till December 2007 it is planning not only to finish the building- assembly but also balancing and commissioning works. Based upon it, to exploitation the rod will be delivered since beginning of year 2008", - is stressed in the message. Earlier it was supposed that the field of railway have to be put into commission in December of year 2008. Building of line Shar - Ust-Kamengorsk - is one of the first infrastructure projects, realized on concession basis. During exploitation of this railway lime all incomes will be directed on provision of bonds' issue, and after renting term expire, the issuer have to transfer the object to state privacy. Works were started on August 27, 2005 after signing of the agreement between ministry of transport and communications of RK and Dosjan temir joly JSC Term of exploitation of the field by company-concessionaire is determined for the period of 2009-2028 years. As it is known, the putting into commission of the new railway branch Shar - Ust-Kamenogorsk, which directly will connect east regions of country with center, avoiding Russia, will let to reduce the distance and terms of loads transportation from industrial enterprisers of Rudniy Altai to other regions of Kazakhstan, and also to reduce the transport costs for load-senders and to increase the volume of passenger transportation and tourist services. The mentioned project is foreseen by strategic plan of development of republic till year 2010. [2007-06-20]