Temporary Solution to Be Implemented Until Full Railway Restoration: Sanosyan

It is still difficult to determine how much time will be required for the complete restoration of the railway. This was stated today by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, Gnel Sanosyan, during a press conference at the Alaverdi City Hall.

Earlier, South Caucasus Railways LLC reported that railway lines in Lori Province were damaged at eight locations due to the overflowing of rivers, totaling up to 2 kilometers in length.

“We are actively working. We have said that we are ready to support the construction companies and the state resources so that work can be restored as soon as possible,” said Sanosyan.

According to him, an interim solution has been found to keep the railway operational up to the Ayrum station. From there, cargo can be transported to various areas via trucks using a bridge.

“Construction works are currently underway near this bridge, and it is being prepared so that trucks can cross,” the minister added.

He noted that the issue has been discussed with various specialists, and at this moment, no better solution has been found. He also reminded that the railway has been damaged in the territory of Georgia, though the damage there is minor. It is expected that the problem in Georgia will be resolved within 2-3 days.

As reported by the Armenian Railway, electrical substations are currently being dried out, and efforts are being made to restore electricity supply and communication to the damaged stations. Temporary schemes for the operation of the railway are being developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.

It should be noted that on the night of May 26, due to heavy rainfall, four people died in the Lori and Tavush regions due to the overflowing of the Debed, Agstev, and Tashir rivers. A decision has been made to declare the affected settlements in Lori and Tavush regions as disaster zones and to allocate 300 million drams to the provinces for eliminating the consequences of the flooding.