MAZARI-SHARIF, May 23. /Dunyo IA/. The fifth station of the Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif railway line has opened in Afghanistan following reconstruction, reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with the Afghan TV channel “TOLOnews”.

The total cost of the project is 6.3 million US dollars. A commercial cargo train arrived at the station for the first time, marking an important milestone in the development of the region's transport infrastructure.

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar expressed gratitude to Uzbekistan for cooperation and called on local and foreign investors to invest in the country's economy.

He also declared the need to expand ties between the two states and allowed for the possibility of future agreements on a visa-free regime.

“God willing, travel between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan will further increase, and in the future an agreement will be reached under which passports and visas will no longer be required.”, - the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of Afghanistan stated.

The Minister of Public Works also spoke about the expansion of railway infrastructure in the country, saying that survey work on the 657-kilometer Hairatan–Herat railway line is underway with Uzbekistan’s cooperation, while the survey of the 878-kilometer Herat–Kandahar railway line is being funded by the ministry.

Private sector officials also described railway expansion as important for increasing trade, reducing transportation costs and delivery times, and promoting investment growth.

Officials from the Ministry of Public Works said the station, located near Mawlana Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi International Airport, has the capacity to unload more than 50 wagons in two operational phases.

The project includes the reconstruction of administrative buildings, modernization of electricity and heating systems, infrastructure upgrades, centralization of power stations, and installation of surveillance and lighting systems along 75 kilometres of railway.

Head of Public Works in Balkh said: “The cost of this project, including railway and non-railway sections as well as track construction contracted with friendly country Uzbekistan, is USD 6.3 million and is being funded by the Ministry of Public Works”.

Chairman of the Board of JSC “O'zbekiston Temir Yo'llari” Zufar Narzullaev reported that within the framework of the project, the administrative buildings of the Naibabad – Mazar-i-Sharif station were reconstructed, engineering systems were modernized and modern equipment was installed, and a new centralized substation was also put into operation.