The Asian Development Bank plans a $350 million loan to modernize the 192-kilometer double-track Balajari-Yalama railway, a key section of Azerbaijan’s North-South transport corridor.
The proposed financing would cover modern electrification, signaling and telecommunications systems along the entire route.
The ADB project card currently lists the $350 million project as “proposed.” No approval date has been entered, meaning the financing is planned but has not yet been formally approved or disbursed.
What the Upgrade Includes
The project calls for the installation of overhead power lines, supports, substations and cables, as well as upgrades to railway signals and station control systems. The telecommunications component includes railway communication networks, onboard electronic equipment, fiber-optic links and wireless systems.
The Balajari-Yalama line serves international export, import and transit traffic operated by Azerbaijan Railways. It forms part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation network and carries freight along Azerbaijan’s northern route.
ADB expects the modernization to improve safety and energy efficiency while reducing transport costs and travel time. The project also includes support for Azerbaijan Railways in managing large infrastructure programs.
The planned financing is specifically aimed at power, signaling and communications systems. It would complement earlier modernization work on the railway toward Yalama and strengthen Azerbaijan’s role in regional freight corridors.
Original report: Vesti Baku