Uzbek officials have announced that the cost of the Trans-Afghan Railway project has risen to more than $7 billion.
Kabul 24: This represents a significant increase from the previous estimate of $4.8 billion, based on updated technical studies and the expansion of the project’s scope.
Jusurbek Choriyev, Deputy Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, made the announcement during the Tashkent International Investment Forum. He stated that a feasibility study for the project is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
The project is considered one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in the region in recent years.The Trans-Afghan Railway will connect Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
The rail line will start from Termez in Uzbekistan, pass through Mazar-i-Sharif, Logar, Kharlachi, and Torkham in Afghanistan, and link to Pakistan’s railway network and the port of Karachi. The project includes the construction of approximately 760 kilometers of new railway track within Afghan territory.
One of the key benefits of this transit corridor is a dramatic reduction in transportation time. According to calculations, the transit of goods from Central Asia to Pakistan will drop from around 35 days to just 3 to 5 days, while significantly lowering transport costs.
Once completed, the railway will have an annual cargo capacity of up to 20 million tons — double the initial estimates.Beyond bilateral trade, the project will play a vital role in connecting Central Asian countries to Pakistan’s seaports and strengthening regional trade.
The total trade volume among the involved countries is estimated at over $700 billion.The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have already expressed strong interest in participating in the project.
Additionally, the Eurasian Development Bank has signaled its readiness to finance part of the initiative. Uzbek officials are optimistic about attracting further investment to accelerate implementation.
For Afghanistan, the completion of this railway could bring transformative benefits. Economic experts believe it will position Afghanistan as a major regional transit hub, creating new opportunities for trade, transit revenue, employment, and economic integration.
Once the feasibility study is finalized, a final decision on construction and investment mobilization will be made.
This ambitious project has the potential to fundamentally reshape the transit map of Central and South Asia and pave the way for sustainable economic growth across the region.
