Tehran plans $10bn spending on infrastructure upgrade

Morning traffic moves along Modarres highway in northern Tehran, Iran (file). Tehran’s municipality plans to spend as much as $10bn as part of a five-year plan to upgrade the capital’s infrastructure and keep up with population growth, an Iranian official said. “This may be a great leap,” Hojat Behrooz, assistant to the deputy mayor for transportation, said in an interview in Dubai. “But with the deficiencies that exist in Tehran’s public transport, if it isn’t done we will certainly run into problems.” More than 70% of the investment would be dedicated to doubling Tehran’s existing metro network to cover 300km (186 miles), Behrooz said. Adding 3,500 new vehicles to the city’s bus fleet is also part of the plan, he said. Tehran’s municipality has been in talks with officials from China for the construction of 150km of metro lines and the purchase of some of the 2,300 metro wagons needed for the city, Behrooz said. Iran is generally keen to resume business co-operation with European companies in light of a temporary easing of economic sanctions against the nation, he added.