Georgia’s PM Says New Highland Tusheti Road Will Suit International Standards

TUSHETI, Georgia – Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced on Thursday that the government has started works aimed at reconstructing the infamously dangerous highland road that leads to the Tusheti region in the country’s extreme northeast.

The infrastructure project, according to Kvirikashvili, is designed to help boost tourism in a region that is often at the top of visitors lists, but rarely visited due to the difficulties associated with getting there.

While meeting with the local population to celebrate the local Tushetoba holiday, Kvirikashvili said the road would be rehabilitated to meet modern international standards and will better link the isolated, mountainous area with Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

“The new road will help foster a sustainable local tourism and develop local traditions. It will also undoubtedly help preserve the region’s unique cultural heritage as well," Kvirikashvili said.

He added that the road will help boost security in the region, which borders the Russia’s restive North Caucasus republic Dagestan.

"You do not only live here, you protect Georgian borders,” Kvirikashvili said to locals.

A majority of Georgians have heavily criticized the government for the poor quality of roads and infrastructure in the country’s high-altitude mountainous regions.

In the most recent finding by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), released in July, the overwhelming majority (83 per cent) of Georgia’s highland population said the country’s mountainous roads are in an unusable, poor state.

Photo: Joe Coyle