Russian Railways (RZD) celebrated on Tuesday the 40th anniversary of the start of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) construction and announced starting works on BAM -2.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, connected via video-conference,  observed the ceremony of laying the ‘silver link’ on Taksimo's – Lodya railway section of East Siberian Railway, symbolising the beginning of BAM 2 project. "The BAM was not only a colossal construction project, but also a huge challenge for the country. It had great strategic military and economic significance. People had to work in very harsh climatic and geological conditions; this was a strain for the entire nation, and especially for those people who actually worked there. What they did was undoubtedly a heroic feat", Putin stated.

The total cost of the project is estimated at 562 billion rubles, of which 302 billion rubles will be provided by RZD, and the remaining 260 billion rubles by the National Welfare Fund and Russian Federation budget.

Photo*RZD

Link to ITAR TASS online photo exhibition "Remembering BAM" on http://itar-tass.com/bam-40