TEHRAN, Jul. 26 (MNA) � Deputy road minister, while pointing to Iran-Italy cooperation in infrastructure projects, said a test center for rail systems will be set up in collaboration with the Italian side.


Deputy Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Road and Urban Development Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan said Iran is following up several rail projects together with Italy asserting �one project is Qom-Arak express train which will join the Tehran-Qom-Isfahan route.�

�The other joint plan with Italy is to buy facilities and equipment for Tehran-Qom-Isfahan railway despite the fact that the financing issues will be undertaken by China,� he continued.

The official went on to note that certain talks have also been conducted with the European country over supplying Tehran-Mashhad railway fleet; �we are willing to accomplish the project in collaboration with a European country and�relevant negotiations have also been held with Siemens of Germany.�

�The contract with the Italian side for launching a test center is becoming finalized which will provide the possibility to test both rail lines and the fleet,� Fakhrieh Kashan highlighted.

Deputy road minister further underlined that Italy has begun studies for Tehran-Hamadan railway and a final agreement will most probably be inked with the European country.

The official touched upon the important condition set for Italy by the Iranian Ministry of Road and Urban Development; �the Italian side is required to invite domestic tenders for the project in order to hire Iranian contractors and operators who will fund the projects.�

Fakhrieh Kashan said �in the road sector, construction of Corridor 10, which will cover the distance between Bazargan and Bandar Imam Khomeini, has been put on the agenda and Italians have expressed readiness to carry out the project on the basis of a Build�operate�transfer (BOT) contract.

The official noted that draft agreements have been inked during a recent visit to Italy; �meanwhile, an Italian delegation is scheduled to travel to Iran for further negotiations.�

�Given the multidimensionality of cooperation with Italy, it was agreed to form a technical committee for infrastructure projects every six months,� he concluded.

By Mehr News Agency