The Vanadzor-Fioletovo railway construction project remains a strategic priority, RA Minister of Transport Manuk Vardanyan told reporters on July 21.

During his latest official visit to Armenia, Vladimir Yakunin, President of the Russian Railways Company, which is managing Armenia’s railway system, stated that the construction of new railways in Armenia is economically unsound. According to him, the construction of a 51-km-long section, Vanadzor-Fioletovo, requires U.S. $200m. Commenting on the statement, Minister Vardanyan said that the Russian official misunderstood the problem. “Yakunin thinks we are raising the issue under the concession agreement, which is not the case. It is our strategic program,” he said. He pointed out that the Vanadzor-Fioletovo section is only 30 km long, so the investment amount was exaggerated.

Minister Vardanyan does not rule out that the strategically important section will be managed by the South Caucasus Railway Company.