Zhetygen-Korgas railroad to start operating on December 9

Zhetygen-Korgas railroad is to start operating on December 9, Tengrinews.kz reports citing press-service of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) national railroad company. Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Industry and New Technologies Asset Issekeshev, Minister of Transport Berik Kamaliyev and head of KTZ Askar Mamin checked the preparedness of transport infrastructure in Almaty oblast. Their visit was timed to connection of Kazakhstan and Chinese sections of the railroad. “Zhetygen-Korgas railroad built in a record short time will significantly boost competitiveness of Kazakhstan's economy by stepping up its export and transit potential. Over 5 thousand jobs were created during the construction and 2,055 Kazakhstan residents will be provided with a stable employment after the railroad starts operating,” the message states. 293 kilometers of railroad have been laid, 5 stations, 9 crossing loops, 28 bridges and 2 crossovers have been built since 2009. Construction of associated facilities has been completed at crossing loops and Altynkol near-border station. “The project of construction of social infrastructure is currently being implemented: residential housing, a kindergarten, school, dormitory and medical facilities are being constructed,” KTZ says. Besides, a checkpoint with a path-through capacity of up to 10.4 thousand people has been constructed at the international trade center Khorgos in 2011. “Over 23 km of motor-road, a road bridge, 4 tunnels, a 11.7 MW boiler-house, 115 MW electric power line, water intake facilities and border-customs infrastructure facilities have been constructed. Conditions for attraction of investors and tourists will be created after the international trade center Khorgos starts operating,” the message states.