Khatlon (tunnel)

Tunnel Khatlon (taj. Naқbi Khatlon), formerly called Chormagzak (taj. Naқbi Chormaғzak) is one of the automobile tunnels in Tajikistan. It passes under the Karategin ridge, or rather, under the Chormagzak pass. The tunnel is located on average 1400 meters above sea level. The length of the tunnel is 4 kilometers 430 meters (4300 meters). It is located in the extreme west of the Faizabad region, which is part of the regions of republican subordination. At the southern entrance of the tunnel there is a dekha (village) of Khujaloni, at the northern entrance there is a dekha Chormagzak. Also in the immediate vicinity of the tunnel are the villages of Kalimihak and Mulloashuri.

The Khatlon tunnel connects the country's capital, Dushanbe, with the southern, densely populated Khatlon region of the country, being one of the most important transport arteries of the state. Before the construction of the tunnel, the road from Kulyab to Dushanbe was about 100 km longer [source not specified 462 days], and the road additionally passed through the high-mountain pass "Chormagzak".
The construction of the tunnel began in March 2010 and the construction agreement was reached in 2007. The total project cost was US $ 68 million. The tunnel was officially commissioned in November 2013. Initially it was called "Chormagzak", but in March 2014 it was renamed "Khatlon". The construction of the tunnel was part of a major project for the reconstruction of the Dushanbe - Vakhdat - Dangara highway. Funds for the project were allocated by the People's Republic of China, which provided funds to Tajikistan as a loan. The general contractor of the project was the Chinese CRBC. After the opening, the distance of the Dushanbe - Vakhdat - Kulyab road, compared to the distance of the Dushanbe - Kurgan-Tyube - Kulyab road, was reduced by 100 km.