TASHKENT-ANDIJAN PASSENGER TRAIN STARTS OPERATION

On 27 August the first passenger train from Tashkent departed to Andijan on the electrified railway line Angren-Pap, the construction of which was completed on the eve of the 25th anniversary of independence.

Happiness and pride can be seen on the faces of passengers. They thank the Almighty for the current peaceful and benevolent life; wish the country peace and prosperity.

Passengers talk about the huge transformations, happening in our country, in particular, about the steady reforms on developing transport and communications system.

From the first years of independence under the guidance of the head of our state, a particular attention was paid to the issue of uniting the all regions of our country under a single transport-communications system. For this purpose, thousands of kilometers of new railway lines have been built, a modern infrastructure has been created.

President Islam Karimov at the extraordinary session of the Andijan regional Kengash of people’s deputies spoke about the planned construction of the Angren-Pap electrified railway line and noted that this unique project will be completed in 2016.

In proof of these word, the Angren-Pap railway line with a total length of 123,1 km and Kamchik tunnel with a length of 19,2 km have been built.

On 22 June 2016 the official opening ceremony of the Angren-Pap railway line and Kamchik tunnel took place, in which President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of the People’ s Republic of China Xi Jinping participated.

This railway road allows carrying out cargo and passenger transportation to the Ferghana valley and back, and also serves as a significant part of the new international transit corridor China-Central Asia-Europe. The new road significantly increases the possibilities for Uzbekistan to get to the world markets, its export potential and transit role.

— Formerly, the transport-communications possibilities of Andijan, Fergana and Namangan regions, in which over 10 million people live, were significantly limited, - says a deputy head of the capital construction department of Uzbekistan temir yo’llari JSC, head of construction of the Angren-Pap electrified railway line, Hero of Uzbekistan Erkin Ummatov. – Under the former regime, a part of transport-communications networkd went through the territory of a neighboring country, which created many discomforts for the people and our economy. The people longed for the day when the Ferghana valley will be directly linked to other regions of our country via railway line.

...Leaving behind Angren, Pap, Kokand and Margilan, the train arrives in Andijan. Residents of Andijan greeted the guests under the sound of karnay and surnays and with bouquets fo flowers.

— We even could not realize how fast we arrived to Andijan from Tashkent in this modern passenger train, which has all necessary conditions, - says a people’s artist of Uzbekistan Erkin Komilov. – We still remember the difficulties we had to overcome through the territory of a neighboring country during the former regime. Today’s event is another manifestation of the independence, wide-scale reforms, implemented under the guidance of the President of our country. Today is truly a historical day.

The Andijan railway station hosted a solemn event to celebrate this event.

Khokim of Andijan region Sh.Abdurakhmonov, chairman of the Senate committee of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on defense and security affairs F.Dadahodjaev, chairman of the Board of Uzbekiston temir yo’llari JSC A.Ramatov, professor of Namangan state university T.Fayzullaev, winner of the State Zulfiya prize S.Foziljonova and other noted that commissioning of the Angren-Pap electrified railway line will serve further growth of the economic potential of our country, increase of welfare of population and authority of Uzbekistan in international arena.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan B.Zakirov spoke at the event.

The train made its journey back to Tashkent from Andijan on the same day.

UzA