Governors Urged to Define Project Priorities for Productivity and Development
(Tehran _ MRUD News) _ The honorable Minister of Roads and Urban Development, H.E. Farzaneh Sadegh, stressed completing transit corridors as a critical strategy to mitigate the impact of sanctions. Speaking at a meeting with governors across the country on March 1st, held at the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Sadegh outlined the Ministry's efforts to boost transport and transit infrastructure, positioning it as a key factor in advancing economic resilience.
According to Her Excellency: "Transport and transit are among our fundamental strategies to address the effects of sanctions. Completing transit corridors ought to take precedence and be pursued with urgency."
Advancing Transit Amid Challenges
Minister Sadegh also acknowledged that while challenges such as sanctions and energy imbalances persist, neighboring countries increasingly view Iran as a reliable transit hub. She noted: "China continues to advocate for goods transit through Iran due to its cost-effectiveness and efficiency, prompting greater cooperation from Turkiye as well." The minister also stressed the importance of completing transit corridors and developing border crossings to maximize transit opportunities, despite existing restrictions.
She highlighted recent diplomatic efforts, including joint commissions, webinars and invitations to neighboring countries to engage in border and transit collaborations. Addressing specific challenges, such as issues faced by Iranian drivers at the Turkish border. Meanwhile, Dr. Sadegh also praised the timely interventions of governors, which facilitated negotiations and resolved many of these problems.
Boosting Infrastructure for National Development
The Minister underscored the economic significance of road and rail infrastructure at the borders, describing them as "sources of wealth creation and national development." She urged governors to communicate these priorities effectively to the government, parliament and judiciary, ensuring alignment on infrastructure development goals.
Prioritizing Projects and Productivity
Addressing financial constraints, Minister Sadegh also called on governors to define project priorities thoughtfully, considering factors such as physical progress and resource efficiency. She explained that some road construction projects requiring less than 20 kilometers for completion have been stalled for years, despite their potential impact. Completing such projects, she stressed, would require over 5.5 billion USD, nationwide.
Minister Sadegh also encouraged governors to adopt innovative approaches to productive development, citing a successful initiative in Alborz Province where land acquisitoin facilitated the construction of a highway. She urged governors to similarly explore opportunities for productive use of assets, even those beyond the ministry's purview, to accelerate infrastructure development.
Housing Development Progress
The Minister also touched on housing initiatives, referencing the 7th Development Plan Law as well as the Housing Production Leap Law as frameworks for progress. Her Excellency noted that while 1.8 million individuals meeting eligibility criteria have registered for housing, approximately 400,000 of them have yet to access financial facilities. Efforts to connect more projects to banking support remain ongoing, with 60,000 additional projects recently integrated into financing mechanisms.
A Collaborative Vision for the Future
Minister Sadegh concluded by stressing the importance of collaboration between the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and provincial governors. She reiterated the Ministry's commitment to completing transit corridors, overcoming logistical challenges, and fostering productive development to enhance the nation’s economic and infrastructure resilience.