Iran's President inaugurates project to connect shrines in two cities

Pishva, Tehran Prov, Oct 9, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a project Saturday morning which will connect the two cities of Qom and Mashhad in Khorassan Razavi province via Tehran.

The project which includes both a freeway and an electrical railway will connect the two cities of Qom, which hosts the holy shrine of Hadrat Masoumeh (SA), and the northeastern city of Mashhad which is the seat of the Shrine of the eighth Shiite Imam, Imam Reza (AS).

The six-line freeway which runs for one thousand kilometers will pass through the cities of Garmsar, Semnan, Sabzevar before reaching its destination.

According to the Iranian Road and Transport Ministry, a total of rls. 30,000 billion is allocated to the project.

Meanwhile, upon the completion of the electrical train, the cities of Isfahan, Qom and Tehran will be connected to the holy city of Mashhad.

Speaking in the inauguration ceremony of the freeway project, President Ahmadinejad said the grand project will facilitate journeys to the two holy shrines for pilgrims./end