Charsk - Ust-Kamenogorsk railroad to be completed in 2008

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Semipalatinsk, March 10, 06/ - Building of Charsk (Shar) - Ust-Kamenogorsk (in East-Kazakhstan oblast) railroad will be completed in 2008. "It's planned to set in exploitation Charsk - Ust-Kamenogorsk railroad in 2008. These are approved calendar terms of building", - Serzhan Mendybayev a members of executive committee of Doszhan Temir Zholy JSC said. "Now, after 7 months since the start of the new railroad building, it's possible to say that work paces are good. 600 persons work in the building. The railroad is being built in two directions to meet: from Ust-Kamenogorsk and from Shar station", - Mendybayev. He says on the railroad, which is 153 km long, besides the groundwork itself, there will be built 3 stations, buildings of three stations, roads, bridges, communication lines and accommodation for maintenance staff. He says relief of the area complicates the works. However at present one bridge with the length of 100 m over Shar river has been built already. Mendybayev says, in accordance with calculations, cost of this line building will be KZT21 bn. (current 129.55/$1), among which 700 m. have been spent already. Charsk - Ust-Kamenogorsk railroad will let reduce distance and periods of cargo transportation from industrial ventures from Rudnyi Altay to other oblasts of Kazakhstan, and reduce transportation expenses of consignors of goods and increase volumes of passenger transportations and traveling services. Realization of the project on Charsk - Ust-Kamenogorsk line building is ифыув on concession: with issue of infrastructure bonds, borrowing of means pension funds and other institutional investors by making concession agreement. Company-concessionaire of the project is Doszhan Temir Zholy JSC. During the railroad exploitation all revenues will be spent for guaranteeing the bond issue, and after expiration of rent period the issuer will have to give the object to state ownership. [2006-03-13]