Tbilisi: The large-scale and technically most advanced infrastructural projects are highly significant for the Georgian economy. Proper infrastructure provides an additional push for the current economic rate of growth in the country, stated the infrastructure minister of Georgia, Irakli Karseladze, on Sunday.
The infrastructure minister highlighted the involvement of citizens in the large-scale infrastructural projects in the country. He noted that the numbers of last year stood at 30000, out of which 80 per cent were Georgians. Thus benefitting them with a stable source of income and enhancement of their skills and work experience.
He further appreciated the construction of the new Rikoti Highway, calling it an unprecedented project and stated that works on 90 bridges are in progress. Also, 32 tunnels out of 51 have already been completed, adding that part of the central had been planned to open in the current year, and the entire highway would be completed next year.
This would make the Trans-Caspian international transport corridor more attractive as it would consume lesser time from Red Bridge to Sarpi, the Georgian- Turkish border.
Karseladze said that the construction of the longest Kvesheti-Kob tunnel in Georgia, 9km-long, 15m diameter, had ‘no analogues’ in the world, making it a historical project as it would facilitate the locals with access to the basic services that include medical and educational services.
Also , the Samtredia-Grigoleti road project in west Georgia was reviewed by the minister along with the construction of a 17-km, four-lane access-controlled highway in eastern Georgia’s winemaking region Kakheti, noting the main sections of the project opening in 2024.
The Gurjaani bypass that opened last year has a significant effect in improving road safety and minimising the travel time to half, stated Karseladze, adding that the Bakurtsikhe-Tsnori road section is also underways.
The budget of the [infrastructure] ministry is growing every year, and this year’s budget is also a record – ₾2,900,000,000 (about $1bln), which, according to the data of the first six months, we have already fulfilled by 111 per cent, with an excess of 11 per cent”, the infrastructure minister noted.
