Abkhaz Railway Assessment Completed

A group of Georgian, Russian and Abkhaz experts have completed an assessment of the current condition of the 200 kilometer-long railway in breakaway Abkhazia to find out the needs for its rehabilitation. The sides signed a joint document which reflects the technical condition of the railway.

Technical Director of the Georgian Railway Company Yuri Chavchanidze, who also led the group of Georgian experts, told Civil Georgia on October 25 that it took a week for the joint group to assess the condition of the existing bridges, tunnels and railway infrastructure.

“Railway movement is more or less possible on a 100-kilometer section from the Psou river to Sokhumi. The section from Sokhumi to Ochamchire needs capital repair. While a 50-kilometer section from Ochamchire to the Inguri river is in the most difficult condition. Actually, there are no rails on this section,” Yuri Chacchanidze said.

A group of Russian and Abkhaz experts began assessing the current condition of the railway on August 10. Georgian experts were also scheduled to join their counterparts from Russia and Abkhazia, but, as officials in Tbilisi explained, the Abkhaz side refused to grant entry to several Georgian experts who were internally displaced persons from Abkhazia.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)