Prime Minister Attends the Launch of the Georgia’s Longest Tunnel Construction

Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili attended the opening of the Kvishkheti-Zvare tunnel construction works on November 19, as almost 8.5 kilometer of tunnel excavation works were completed, forming a part of the Tbilisi-Makhinjauri main railway magistral modernization project, expected to play an important part in the dvelopment of the country’s infrastructure. 

“This large-scale project will increase the railway line capacity flow; the safety of the trains on the area of the mountain pass and what’s equally important, the travelling time will be reduced, with distance from Tbilisi to Batumi to be operated by even faster trains.” Prime Minister Kvirikashvili said, adding that the project is estimated to finish by 2020, and that Tbilisi-Makhinjauri direction will have modernized infrastructure, meeting modern standards. 

As Giorgi Kvirikashvili pointed out, the railway modernization project is a part of the four stage reform plan initiated by the Georgian government, with spatial development being one of the largest components of the reform plan. The Prime Minister noted that Georgia, following the spatial reform, will have a brand new infrastructure, with new sea ports, railway stations, airports and touristic infrastructure. Giorgi Kvirikashvili then thanked the China Railway Bureau '23rd Bureau Group', who is in charge of the construction works on the mountain pass; while ILF and DB International Consortium are supervising the project. 

“We have the possibility to restore our international function within the Silk Road, and in this regard, this project is immensly important in terms of increasing our country's transit potential. A further developed transport and logistics infrastructure is a crucial factor for private sector competitiveness, and offers great potential for doing business, both regionally and internationally,” Prime Minister of Georgia said. 

“Makhinjauri railway magistral project is important for Anaklia Deep Sea Port development too; together, these two projects will fundamentally change Georgia’s transit potential and economic landscape, which is why the successful realization of these projects is a top priority for our country. These are the projects that are set to make major breakthrough in our country's economy. We know that Anaklia Development Consortium is negotiating with Chinese companies, on behalf of the Georgian government I would like to say that for us it is vitally important that the Chinese part to be seriously represented in this project,” Giorgi Kvirikashvili said, adding that on November 28 and 29, an international Silk Road Forum: One Belt, One Road will be held in Tbilisi.

By Nino Gugunishvili