Railway project to link nine provinces under review

KABUL (BNA): A high-level delegation assigned under the special directive of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has carried out extensive visits to assess and finalize the route for a planned national railway corridor. The visits spanned from Hairatan Port in Balkh province to Herat, and from Torghundi Port in Herat to Kandahar, covering a proposed rail line expected to enhance national and regional connectivity.

According to a statement received by Bakhtar News Agency, senior officials from various ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Public Works, Finance, Mines and Petroleum, Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Information and Culture, and Economy, took part in the mission. Representatives from the National Environmental Protection Agency and the Municipal Reform Directorate of the Administrative Office also participated.

The technical teams conducted on-site evaluations across nine provinces—Balkh, Jawzjan, Faryab, Badghis, Herat, Farah, Helmand, Nimroz, and Kandahar—to examine potential railway routes based on natural, technical, economic, environmental, and social criteria. The goal is to select a final alignment that will best support Afghanistan’s economic growth, regional integration, and transit facilitation.

The delegation also held meetings with local officials to incorporate community perspectives and regional needs into the final decision-making process.

Following these assessments, a technical report will be compiled and submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister. The report will guide the official announcement of the railway route and preparations for practical implementation.

This strategic railway project is envisioned to connect Afghanistan with neighboring countries and global trade networks, integrating various provinces into the national economy. It is also expected to generate substantial employment and open key trade corridors.

According to preliminary estimates, the full railway line will stretch 1,468 kilometers, crossing nine provinces, 37 districts, and 800 villages. The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase will cover 657 kilometers from Mazar-i-Sharif to Herat. The second phase will span 811 kilometers, beginning in Herat and continuing through the provinces of Farah, Nimroz, and Helmand, ending in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.