The semi-complete Phase 1 of Line 2 subway project of Karaj, the provincial capital of Alborz, requires 4.9 trillion rials ($21.6 million).
According to a worksheet published by Karaj Urban and Suburban Railway Organization, over 93% of the first phase have been completed and it will become operational, as soon as the budget is allocated, IMNA reported.
Only 2.21% of its construction work remain and 4.15% of equipment need to be procured, KUASRO’s report says.
The first phase encompasses six stations and 5.5 kilometers from Jahanshahr to Golshahr districts.
During a Saturday visit to the construction site, Karaj Mayor Ali Kamalizadeh said tunneling, completion of power substation, cable installation and the remaining construction work require 904 billion rials ($3.9 million).
In addition, the installation of equipment, including elevators, escalators, fire extinguishers, illumination and telecom devices, power supply, electronic payment system, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, needs another 4 trillion rials ($17.7 million).
After completion, the line will connect Kamalshahr in the far west of the city to Shahid Soltani Bridge in the east with 27 kilometers of railroad and 27 stations.
A couple of months ago, Tehran City Council Chairman Mohsen Hashemi, who headed Tehran Metro Company before his present designation, visited the construction site, saying 90% of tunneling had been completed but major equipment needed to be procured.
Speaking of financial issues, Hashemi said 4 trillion rials ($17.46 million) of participatory bonds issued last year are yet to be redeemed.
“The fund is expected to spur the development of Line 2,” he added.
Earlier in November 2020, Kamalizadeh said, “The construction of Line 5 of Karaj Metro is undergoing field studies and work is expected to commence soon.”
Line 5 will connect Rajaei-Shahr in the north to Mohammad-Shahr in the south of the city with 10 stations.
Progress at Snail’s Pace
Karaj’s subway project was launched in 2006. A 102-km network of five lines, which will be connected to the Tehran-Karaj subway route, has been planned. Karaj is 35 km west of Tehran.
Until a few months ago, only 12 kilometers of the tunnels had been dug and the project has made little progress over the past 13 years, more because of a lack of will among urban officials than inadequate funding.
However, Alborz Governor General Azizollah Shahbazi told reporters that the main reason behind the delay in the line’s completion is budget deficiency.
“The construction of tunnels is advancing rapidly,” he said optimistically.
On the contrary, some officials are pessimistic about the project’s rate of progress.
Mansour Vahidi, a member of Karaj City Council, said the metro project will not become operational even after six years.
“More than a decade has passed since the launch of the Karaj subway project, but mismanagement of resources and corruption have impeded progress,” he said.
“The progress so far is not significant compared to the total volume of construction ahead.”
Siphoning of Fund
Hossein Ardakani, another member of the city council, had earlier said over 500 workers using 420 pieces of heavy machinery are working round the clock on the project, stressing that lack of funds has always been a problem.
The councilor accused the former administration of undermining the project.
The sitting council was elected in May 2017 and has announced its determination to complete the subway “as soon as possible”. This is while the project’s infrastructure is not yet in place.
Mohammad Rostami, the project’s executive manager, said last October that since 2007, close to 5 billion rials ($21,800) have been spent monthly on the project, amounting to 700 billion rials ($3 million) so far.
Rostami had said that in the best-case scenario and in view of the current state of affairs, the first line of the subway network, which is 27 km long, will become operational in three years, provided the monthly allocation of funds increases to 800 billion rials ($3.5 million).
In short, he was asking for $104 million over the next three years.
The Alborz subway project is funded through several sources, including revenues from Karaj Municipality, government funding and bonds.
In late August 2020, Rahim Khastou, vice chairman of Karaj City Council, said the budget allocated to the project is 10 times less than that of the Tehran subway project and that is why the work has not been proceeding well.
City officials expect state financial support to expedite the process.
