Elaborating Resettlement Framework for Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project

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Status: Completed

Full Activity Title: Assessment of potential economic impact of privately-owned land and real property acquisition within the scope of Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project and elaboration of Resettlement Framework

Location: Tbilisi

Activity Dates: June, 2009 – November, 2009

Source of Funding: GDC Solutions Ltd

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Project Abstract:

Georgian Railway LLC is planning to develop a new railway route outside the central area of the city of Tbilisi - the Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project.

The railway section which currently runs through Tbilisi, capital of Georgia, is the major thoroughfare for freight on the east-west transport corridor through Georgia; at the same time Tbilisi is the central hub for national and international rail passenger traffic.

The traffic now carried by the railway is substantially transit oil traffic from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to ports on the Black Sea, a hazardous good which should not be transported through such a densely populated area. In order to improve the situation, it is proposed to build the new line of the railway bypassing the Capital.

In accordance with the policy of EBRD, one of the main investors of the Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project, it is necessary to prepare environment impact assessment, as well as resettlement framework, based on the study of potential economic impact.

Association for Protection of Landowners’ Rights, within the scope of the contact signed with GDC Solutions Ltd, which in its turn is the contractor of EBRD, prepares the Resettlement Framework in compliance of EBRD requirements. For this purpose APLR learns the impact of new railway construction on the land, other real property and population; analyses the laws of Georgia regulating real property compensation related issues in terms of compliance with EBRD policy; identifies land ownership status on project affected territories and ensures classification of real property; calculates amount of compensation for each category of such property. If necessary, methods for livelihood restoration are discussed and assessed together with project affected populations. APLR specialists carry out intensive consultations with all parties involved, including local communities, on how to ensure smooth and impartial compensation for loss of assets and other assistance to help them to improve or at least restore their standards of living. 

As a result of above works, Resettlement Framework is prepared where the amounts of proposed compensation are calculated and necessary actions identified.

The Project is supposed to ensure smooth resettlement and restoration of livelihoods of the  population affected by Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project, implementation of which will ultimately improve the efficiency and safety of rail operations within the city of Tbilisi and support urban redevelopment of freed-up territories, as well as considerably improve ecological conditions in the Capital.