TEHRAN -- President Ebrahim Raisi has inaugurated several major infrastructure and development projects in western Kordestan province, including the Hamadan-Sanandaj railway which has a total length of 151 kilometers.
The railway will ultimately stretch to Bashmagh border crossing with Iraq, putting the region in the map of an evolving international transit route.
Launched 18 years ago, the project to build a rail line between Hamedan and Sanandaj had been put on hold due to funding problems. Last year, President Raisi allowed about $275.5 million for its completion when he visited the region.
The operation of the railway will create direct employment, facilitate passenger and cargo transportation from the west to the center of the country, reduce the cost of cargo transportation, boost tourism and improve the regional economy.
On Friday, President Raisi inaugurated Saqqez airport as he flew to the city. Launched in 1996, the construction of the airport had also restarted after the president visited Kordestan last year.
Raisi also inaugurated 10 major water and electricity projects worth over 120 trillion rials in the province.
They included two major water supply projects, two water treatment facilities, and irrigation and drainage networks for more than 2,700 hectares of farmlands.