Tajik–Afghan Friendship Bridge
Tajikistan-Afghanistan Friendship Bridge In Darwaz region | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 38°27′N 70°50′E / 38.45°N 70.83°E |
| Carries | Commercial and passenger vehicles up to 25 metric tonnes |
| Crosses | Panj River |
| Locale | Darvaz Tajikistan / Afghanistan |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Total length | 135 metres |
| Width | 3.5 metres |
| History | |
| Opened | July 6, 2004 |
| Location | |
 | |
The Tajikistan–Afghanistan Friendship Bridge connects the two banks of Darvaz region across the Panj River (further downstream known under the name Amu Darya) separating Tajikistan and Afghanistan,[1][2][3] at the town of Qal'ai Khumb. It was opened on 6 July 2004.
Overview
Inaugurated by Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmonov, Afghanistan’s Vice-President Nematullah Shahrani and Imam Aga Khan in July, 2004, the bridge was built at a cost of USD $500,000 by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) with collaborative support from the governments of the United States and Norway.[1] It was the second in a series of bridges being built between Tajikistan and Afghanistan by the AKDN along the Panj River. (The Amu Darya begins at the junction of the Panj River and Vakhsh River.)
The 135-metre long suspension bridge has a single-track 3.5 meters wide and a carrying capacity of 25 metric tonnes.[1] It carries both commercial and passenger traffic and represents a permanent overland link between the two countries.
Other Tajikistan-Afghanistan bridges
The first bridge crossing the Tajik-Afghan border was opened in November 2002, connecting Tem in Tajikistan and Demogan in Afghanistan.[1] It too was constructed with assistance from the Aga Khan Foundation.
An additional bridge, connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan, spanning the Panj river, at Panji Poyon (Nizhni Pyanj), was opened on 26 August 2007.[4][5][6]
There are plans to span the border with an additional bridge, spanning the Panj river, in Gorno Badakhshan's Khumroghi area near Vanj.[2]
Railway bridge
A railway line from Dushanbe to Shir Khan Bandar in Afghanistan crossing the Pyanj River saw construction start in 2009.[citation needed]
Nizhniy Pyanj (326m) - town on North bank
Shir Khan Bandar (329m) - town on South bank[7][failed verification][8]
See also
- Tajik–Afghan bridge at Panji Poyon
- Tajik–Afghan bridge at Tem-Demogan
- Railway stations in Afghanistan
- Railway stations in Tajikistan
References
- ^ a b c d "Darwaz Bridge to strengthen commercial ties and Tajik-Afghan relations". Aga Khan Development Network. Retrieved 2008-12-04. mirror
- ^ a b "Navrouz celebration - Tajik-Afghan Bridge - UCA publishes new book on Gorno Badakshan". Ismailimail. 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-12-04. mirror
- ^ "Darwaz Bridge to Strengthen Commercial Ties and Tajik-Afghan relations". Aga Khan Development Network. Retrieved 2008-09-28. mirror
- ^ "AFGHANISTAN-TAJIKISTAN: Work on US-built Tajikistan-Afghansitan bridge to start in spring". Retrieved 2008-12-04. mirror
- ^ "US-made Tajikistan-Afghanistan bridge opens". BBC News. 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
- ^ Mavjouda Hasanova (2007-11-27). "Tajik FM, Afghan diplomat discuss handling of cargo traffic via Dusti bridge in Panji Poyon". Asia Plus. Retrieved 2008-12-04. mirror
- ^ http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/news/articles/eav032009a.shtml
- ^ http://freemanexaminer.org/090322fmx2112.shtml