South Korea is actively involved! Tajikistan has announced the preliminary study results for the Dushanbe Metro project, with construction expected to begin in 2028

On May 7, the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan announced the results of the preliminary study for the Dushanbe Metro project carried out in cooperation with South Korea. Supported by Korea National Railway (KNR) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), this study serves as a prerequisite for the subsequent feasibility study. Tajikistan attaches great importance to advancing the project, listing it as a key priority in its rail transportation sector. Currently, the feasibility study is being conducted by a South Korean consulting firm, and the two sides have established a permanent working group to push forward project-related matters. South Korea is actively involved!

Tajikistan has released the preliminary study results for the Dushanbe Metro project, with construction expected to begin in 2028, and South Korea is playing an active role! Tajikistan announced the preliminary study results for the Dushanbe Metro project, with construction expected to start in 2028.

The Tajik Minister of Transport met with representatives from KNR and KEXIM, jointly presenting the 阶段性 (stage-specific) results of the preliminary study for the Dushanbe Metro project. During the meeting, the Minister emphasized that the metro project is one of the top priorities for Tajikistan’s transportation sector, and discussions on advancing the main project phase with South Korea are currently underway. KEXIM stated that South Korea plans to proceed with the metro project according to the original timeline, aiming to launch the first-phase construction between 2028 and 2033. The CEO of KNR also expressed a strong willingness to participate in future phases of the project. According to the Tajik Ministry of Transport, Tajikistan and South Korea are currently implementing four small-scale transportation projects, one of which is the preliminary feasibility study for the Dushanbe Metro system. This pre-feasibility study officially began in September 2024, undertaken by the South Korean consulting firm Korea Engineering Consultants (KEC).

Collaboration between Tajikistan and South Korea on the metro project dates back to March 2022, when the Tajik Ministry of Transport and KNR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to study the feasibility of constructing the Dushanbe Metro. Based on this MoU, experts from both countries conducted an 11-month analysis of the project’s organizational and legal aspects. In August 2023, the Tajik Ministry of Transport signed another MoU with KEXIM, under which South Korea agreed to fund the preliminary study and techno-economic verification of the project. The two sides also agreed that South Korea would provide financial support for detailed project development, including a committed US$200,000 for initial work. To ensure smooth progress, the Tajik Ministry of Transport, Dushanbe City Government, and KNR formed a working group to specifically discuss metro construction matters. A September 2024 expert meeting in Dushanbe confirmed that the Dushanbe Metro would be built underground, though specific construction timelines and route details were not yet announced at the time. However, the Dushanbe City Government had indicated in 2019 that the first above-ground line would connect the city’s South Gate to the Guliston (Circus) area, with completion expected in 2040, while underground lines would be developed in subsequent phases.