SAMARKAND (AkiPress) — Uzbekistan began restoring railroad leading to Tajikistan, local media report. The railways leading to Khatlon province of Tajikistan were dismantled a decade and a half ago.

According to Tajik news agencies, restoration works will be finished soon and trains will begin to run before March 10.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Tajikistan is planned for that time. The passenger railway routes are planned to be launched between two countries.

The media reported earlier that Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are discussing the possibility of opening railway routes through Uzbekistan to Russia bypassing Turkmenistan: Dushanbe-Pakhtaabad-Boysun-Karshi-Tosguzar.