Deputy Minister of Road and Urban Development Ahmad Sadeghi announced on Sunday that Tehran-Shomal freeway project will be completed in next four years. Recently Khatam al-Anbia, an engineering firm controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, has taken control of this project.
On August 1, 2007, Iran and China reached a mutual agreement to complete Tehran-Shomal freeway project until the end of 2011. But Chinese corporations and firms failed to achieve this goal.
“The second and third parts of the freeway are still uncompleted. By allocating a budget of some $750 million, Khatam al-Anbia will be able to make this project operational until the next four years.” Ahmad Sadeghi told reporters on Sunday.
“By taking advantage of this freeway, Iranian and foreigner companies will be able to transfer their goods and commodities from central areas of Iran to Caspian coasts.” Ahmad Sadeghi added. After construction of this freeway, a large amount of commodity could be imported and exported through Noshahr Port.
It’s worth mentioning that Tehran-Shomal freeway project has a length of 121km and is targeted to establish a rapid and safe connection between the central area of Iran, and especially Tehran, with the south Caspian coast and the recently-established countries beyond the Iranian coasts of this sea.
Khatam ol-Anbia is the IRGC’s major engineering arm and one of Iran’s largest contractors in industrial and development projects. Khatam al-Anbia was created during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war to help rebuild the country, and has diversified over the years into companies dealing with mechanical engineering, energy, mining and defense.