Armenia's Public Investment Committee approves six projects

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan chaired the ninth meeting of the Public Investment Committee, which approved six public investment projects. He emphasized the importance of the effective management and implementation of public investment programs, which contribute to economic activity, the targeted allocation of resources, infrastructure development, long-term efficiency, and more.

The approved projects include a program on the possibility of using water from the Her-Her Reservoir through the pumping method; three road infrastructure projects under the Resilient and Inclusive Road Sector Improvement Project-2; a program to strengthen the capacity of the Yerevan Rescue Department of the Rescue Service; and a program to develop Armenia's national spatial data infrastructure, according to the Prime Minister's Office. 

Her-Her Reservoir water use

Aramazd Ghalamkaryan, Chairman of the Water Committee of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, presented the draft public investment program on the possibility of using water from the Her-Her Reservoir through the pumping method.

The program aims to ensure irrigation water supplies to 12 settlements in Vayots Dzor Province. The agricultural land that could be served by a water pipeline to be built from the Her-Her Reservoir is estimated at approximately 2,440 hectares and includes the settlements of Her-Her, Vayk, Malishka, Zedea, Agarakadzor, Yeghegnadzor, Getap, Arpi, Aghavnadzor, Rind, Areni, and Chiva.

The construction of the water pipeline would make it possible to use the 26 million cubic meters of water accumulated annually in the Her-Her Reservoir efficiently, increase irrigated agricultural land, ensure a stable supply of irrigation water, and provide an additional flow of 10–13 million cubic meters of water into Lake Sevan, among other benefits.

Committee members discussed the project's potential to address economic, social, and water security challenges. They emphasized the need to conduct a feasibility study, which would make it possible to assess the energy potential more precisely.

Road infrastructure projects

Kristine Ghalechyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, presented three draft public investment programs under the Resilient and Inclusive Road Network Improvement Program-2: the post-disaster rehabilitation of the M-6 Vanadzor (M3 intersection)-Alaverdi-Republic of Armenia border (Bagratashen) highway, the construction of a new Dilijan tunnel, and the major renovation and modernization of the Pushkin Tunnel.

The M-6 highway rehabilitation project envisages restoring and improving sections of the M-6 Vanadzor (M3 intersection)-Alaverdi-Republic of Armenia border (Bagratashen) interstate highway damaged by the floods that occurred in May 2024.

The work will include rehabilitating damaged road sections, strengthening the resilience of areas vulnerable to potential future flooding of the Debed River through bank protection measures and the construction of retaining walls, and implementing rockfall protection measures.

The discussion emphasized the importance of safe transport infrastructure resilient to climate risks. Such infrastructure would contribute to road safety, the uninterrupted and safe operation of transport systems, economic efficiency, accessibility for communities, and more.

Construction of a new Dilijan tunnel

Ghalechyan also reported on the construction of a new Dilijan tunnel. The project envisages building a new 2,365-meter-long tunnel parallel to the existing Dilijan Tunnel, approximately 50 meters to the left.

The new tunnel will comply with the requirements for a Category II road and EU Directive 2004/54/EC on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the Trans-European Road Network. It will be equipped with modern engineering and safety systems and automated control systems, while the existing tunnel will be converted into an evacuation tunnel.

The evacuation tunnel will be connected to the new tunnel every 500 meters, allowing road users to be evacuated rapidly in emergency situations.

The officials agreed that the project's implementation would contribute to creating modern, unimpeded, and sustainable transport infrastructure and serve people, economic development, and the environment.

They emphasized that constructing a modern tunnel complex would also contribute to effective emergency management, uninterrupted and reliable traffic, and the development of tourism, freight transportation, and economic activity.

Major renovation and modernization of the Pushkin Tunnel

Ghalechyan also presented details of the draft public investment program for the major renovation and modernization of the Pushkin Tunnel.

The project envisages rehabilitating and modernizing the tunnel's structural elements, improving its engineering systems, and introducing modern road and fire safety solutions.

Its implementation would contribute to improved traffic safety and continuity, enhanced reliability of transport links, and bringing the tunnel into compliance with modern safety requirements.

Committee members exchanged views and emphasized the importance of work aimed at modernizing the tunnel and its technical systems, organizing traffic safely, and improving conditions for responding to emergency situations.

Strengthening Yerevan's firefighting capabilities

Armen Mkrtchyan, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, presented the draft public investment program to strengthen the capacity of the Yerevan Rescue Department of the Rescue Service.

He reported that the firefighting vehicles operated by the fire and rescue units of the Yerevan Rescue Department of the Rescue Service had not been renewed since 2010. The vehicles currently in service are physically worn out and technologically obsolete and frequently break down.

Numerous high-rise residential and public buildings have been constructed in Yerevan and its surrounding areas in recent years. The area also contains hazardous industrial facilities and critical life-support infrastructure facilities. Effective firefighting operations at these sites require aerial ladder trucks with a reach of at least 35 meters.

The meeting addressed issues related to the program's implementation and the possibilities of carrying it out through different formats.

National spatial data infrastructure

Suren Tovmasyan, Head of the Cadastre Committee, presented the draft investment program for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia.

The program envisages the creation and development of Armenia's National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) as a key element of the country's digital transformation.

It includes a unified geodetic reference system; aerial photography and LiDAR mapping of the country's entire territory; high-resolution 3D models of cities; mobile mapping of roads; bathymetric surveys of water areas; standardization of cadastral data; thematic datasets and digital services; and modernization of the National Geoportal, supported by reliable information security infrastructure.

During the discussion, participants addressed the program's objectives and emphasized the importance of integrated information for strategic planning and forecasting, decision-making, management, and operational efficiency.

All six public investment projects were approved following the discussions.