Infrastructure, Interior ministries: no confirmation of workers fatalities in tunnel works in north
The state bodies released the response after Mtis Ambebi news outlet said accumulation of “flammable gas” in the tunnel - part of a road connecting the two villages - had caused “death and injury of several workers”. Photo: Mtis Ambebi
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian ministries of Infrastructure and Internal Affairs on Friday said they could not confirm media reports on the death of workers during the construction works on the Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel in Georgia’s north.
The state bodies released the response after Mtis Ambebi news outlet said accumulation of “flammable gas” in the tunnel - part of a road connecting the two villages - had caused “death and injury of several workers”.
Mtis Ambebi said the incident had been confirmed by "independent sources", including those employed in the construction of the tunnel.
[They] confirmed that the ventilation system [for the works] had not functioned for two days, which caused a large amount of poisonous gas to accumulate in the tunnel", the report said.
The Ministry of Infrastructure said it would “immediately contact relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances", while the Ministry of Internal Affairs said it would respond to developments "within the scope of its competence".
Why it is important for Georgia?
Construction of the longest tunnel in Georgia, 9-km long and 15-m in width Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel, has started today, announces the Ministry of Infrastructure. The tunnel will be carved with the tunnel boring machine which was specially made for the construction of the Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel. The Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel starts at Tskere village and ends at Kobi village, and will pass under Jvari pass. Overall, construction of 2-lane 23 km long asphalt-concrete road, five bridges and five tunnels is planned on Kvesheti-Kobi road, including renovation of one more tunnel.
The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved $60 million to co-finance the construction of the 9-km long Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel, which forms part of the North-South corridor.
An agreement to build a 9-km tunnel on the Kvesheti-Kobi road was signed today by Chinese company China Railway Tunnel Group Co., LTD (CRTG) and the Georgian Ministry of Infrastructure, announces the Roads Department of Georgia.
Chinese company China Railway 23rd Bureau Group Co will build a new 13 km-long Kvesheti-Kobi road in Georgia, announces the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.