(Turkmenistan.ru) – The state national company Turkmenhowayollary (Turkmenistan Airlines) has announced an international tender for the design and construction of a new airport complex with the capacity of 100 passengers per hour in the city of Atamurat in Lebap province.

(Photo: Google Earth)

Atamurat is a town in eastern Turkmenistan. It is located in Lebap Province. It was formerly known as Kerki (کرکوه). The town is currently served by an aerodrome (UT51) located 3 km from the town centre. The new installations would be constructed around the current airfield.

The terms of the tender can be obtained from the department of airport operations and capital construction of the SNS Turkmenhowayollary in Ashgabat. The deadline for submission of bids is two months from the date of announcement.

Atamurat is not far from Afghan border and in 2010, Turkmenistan declared willing to fund and construct a 126 km railway to northern Afghanistan. The proposed line would run to Aqina on the Afghan border, and then run 36 km within Afghanistan to Andkhoy (اندخوی) district in Faryab (فاریاب) province. The railway line will be effective in boosting trade relations, as it will help grow the Afghan economy, and thus Afghanistan will gain access to Caspian sea and the European countries. The railway line will connect Afghanistan with the Turkmenistan railway network in Central Asia that finally ends in Europe. From this point of view, the Atamurat airport can be transformed as a hub for Afghan travellers.