IRNA � Member of Board of Directors of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways Hossein Ashuri said on Saturday that Azerbaijan Republic is to invest 60 million dollars to develop Astara railway freight station in west of Gilan province.

Exploitation of the rail route for transport of goods has been ceded to Azerbaijan Republic for 15 years, he said during his inspection of Astara-Astara rail route project.
Ashuri told Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that this rail route will be opened on Thursday by the presidents of the two countries though video conference and a 500-million-dollar contract on execution of Rasht-Astara railway project will be signed.
He said that Rasht-Astara railway will complete North-South rail corridor whose contract was inked 16 years ago. Once operational goods can be transported from India to Eastern Europe by railway through Iran and Azerbaijan.
Astara railway freight station will be built in a 60 hectare plot of land consisting of eight big fuel reservoirs and several warehouses.
Ashuri said Astara-Astara railway project was among the first plans to be executed following implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
He added that economic cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan Republic has been strengthened in recent years and this railway project will be a win-win deal for both countries.
Astara border port city with a population of 91,000 is located in west of Gilan province and has 38 kilometers of common land border and 15 kilometers if water border with Azerbaijan Republic.