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As previously reported, Western Europe – Western China road corridor is currently open for traffic. However on the section “Shymkent – border of Zhambyl region” the tunnel section of the road of approximately 800 meters length still requires to be completed.

In 2013, the Committee for Roads concluded a contract with Iranian Dena Rahsaz Construction Co. for the construction of the road section “Shymkent – border of Zhambyl region”, km 593 - km 632. Construction of the tunnel was planned to be completed by the end of 2015. However, and to date, the tunnel is built at 60%, and any construction works have stopped in September 2015. The reason for this situation was the financial difficulties that the contractor encountered, due to the difficult situation at the contractor’s country, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the change in the exchange rate of payment.

Due to the failure of construction of the contract, in May 2017 the contract with the company Dena Rahsaz Construction Co. has been terminated, and the construction of the tunnel has been decided to be completed by other contractor, to which this contract will be awarded following the results of the new bidding process. The procurement of works for tunnel through the international competitive bidding is in the process and expected to award the contract to the Contractor in September, 2017.