Financial Tribune- Construction work on a segment of railroad project extended from Iran to Afghanistan in western Herat province will be completed within the next 10 days and then put into service, the Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan said on Saturday.

Work on the 62-kilomter railroad project from Iran’s border to Ghoriyan District of Herat was launched in 2007 at a cost of $75 million based on a grant from Iran. The project was scheduled to be completed in 2009, Pajhwok Afghan News reported.

Officials say the mega project will provide transport and transit facilities and help flourish trade between Afghanistan and Iran.

Mohammad Raza Bahrami, Iran’s ambassador in Kabul, visited the province and oversaw ongoing work on the Herat-Khawaf rail track.

Of the 62 kilometers of the railroad in Afghanistan, tracks have been laid on about 33 kilometers and the rest would be completed within the next 10 days.

The Herat-Khawaf 191-km railroad is being constructed in four segments, three of which are financed by Iran and the fourth is being funded by Afghanistan's national budget.