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In an extraordinary session, the National Assembly debated the issue of ratifying the Letter-Agreement Loan 3449-ARM between the Republic of Armenia and the Asian Development Bank: Armenia-Georgia Border Regional Road (M6 Vanadzor-Bagratashen) Improvement Project – the third extension of the loan closing period and redistribution of the loan funds.

The RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Kristine Ghalechyan informed that within the framework of the Agreement, the reconstruction of the 51 km long Vanadzor-Bagratashen section of the M6 ​​ interstate road was implemented with improved road coverage and a number of security measures. Construction works were completed in 2023, and the restored road was put into operation in 2024.

2.4 million tons of cargo were transported through the Bagratashen customs point, instead of the previous 0.85 million tons. The number of accidents has also decreased.

According to Kristine Ghalechyan, an additional component was included in the project due to the saving of the existing funds: It is the ordering of the design works for the modernization of the highway tunnels of Dilijan and Pushkin.

In response to MP Arsen Torosyan’s question about the roads that are being demolished and not restored, Kristine Ghalechyan stated that although the law sets clear requirements, but as a result of monitoring, it was found that in a number of cases, not only are they not restored, but also it is problematic to restore those roads to their former appearance.

MP Sergey Bagratyan inquired in his turn about the road put into operation in 2024, which was already damaged due to the recent floods during the short period of operation.

“What is the reason that we have such a problem with the newly operated road? According to the order, you need to do geodesy, geology, design, build new. In other words, did the designer calculate that in case of this course of the river and flooding, that road will be damaged and why barriers were not designed? Who is guilty and responsible?” the MP asked.

Kristine Ghalechyan informed that the design was carried out in 2016-2017, and according to the data of the project at that time, these studies exist. The Deputy Minister, however, noted that the intensity of this flood was much greater, which was not visible in the long-term study results of previous years.

The Chair of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Tsovinar Vardanyan also responded to this question, stating that it is not always possible to calculate the severity of the disaster.

In her related report, Tsovinar Vardanyan informed that the Committee endorsed it.

The issue was approved by the Parliament.