TEHRAN, Aug. 24 (MNA) Irans minister of roads and city planning has said sanctions relief provided Irans transportation sector with fresh air to breathe.Abbas Akhundi, who was speaking to IRIB Channel One Glance program last night, said that the ministry sought to revive forgotten transit corridors of Europe to Asia in attempts to create communications in transportation sector. Asian railroad network, Aisan continental highway, the Silk Road, Asian southern corridor, international north-south and east-west transit corridors are among many long-forgotten corridors which we seek to revive, Akhundi said.
In line with such attempts, we will connect southernmost port city of Chabahar to north-south nationwide railroad; the revival project would cost $13bn, while the government suffers lack of funds, the minister predicted.
About Iran-141 recent crash in Tehran, Akhundi said that a commission was carrying an investigation into the issue, and expressed hope that the commission would report on the causes of the crash by the deadline. However, he warned about possible speculations about the causes of air crash before the commission releases final report.
Sanctions relief has provided air transportation sector with a fresh air to breathe, and recently 10 airplanes have joined the national fleet, adding 2,800 seats, with average flying age of 18 months, Akhundi rejoiced to say.
Purchase of plane parts has been facilitated by sanction relief. Recently, we have sent faulty plane engines abroad for repairs; in addition, access to maintenance and upkeep booklets has been greatly facilitated, he cited as advantages of sanctions removal.
About Mehrabad Airport transfer, Akhundi said that the project would be very expensive needing billions of dollars to implement; instead, we should improve flight security, he added.
Akhundi cited shipping industry as another case where Iran benefited from sanctions removal. Now, Shahid Rajaei port hosts foreign ships, thus providing advantages of international trade, said the minister.
By Mehr News Agency
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