Belkomur ahead of schedule?
The current financial crisis does not seem to bother the director of the Belkomur railway development company. He is confident that the projected 1300 km long railway link between Western Siberia and the Barents Sea will be under construction from year 2011.
General Director Elman Khudazarov believes the railway line will materialize ahead of schedules. While the Russian federal transport strategy opens up for construction start in 2016, Mr. Khudazarov himself believes the construction can start already in 2011, Rosbaltnord.ru reports with reference to RIA Novosti.
He says that the project now is assessed by the Ministry of Transport, whereupon project plans will be handed to the Ministry of Regional Development. After that, an application to the Russian Stabilization Fund will be made.
The projected 1300 km Belkomur railway from Perm in the Urals to Arkhangelsk will cut transport distances between Siberia and the Barents Sea with 800 km and thus offer a powerful new channel for Russian exports.
The project was this summer included in the Russian Transport Strategy. The strategy does however open up for new major infrastructure like the Belkomur only in the period 2016-2030.
General Director Khudazarov is still confident that exceptions will be made for Belkomur.
While the railway project for years have been on standstill, the last year has seen new progress. The project is promoted by the regional administrations of Perm Kray, Komi Republic and Arkhangelsk Oblast.
