Italy’s BTP Nears Final Design Stage for Iraq’s Development Road Project
The Italian consultancy BTP Infrastrutture has completed around 70 to 75 percent of the final designs and studies for Iraq’s ambitious Development Road Project, which will connect Basra in the south to the Turkish border through a modern railway and international highway.
Project Director Guido Bonini told Iraq’s state news agency (INA) that BTP has already submitted detailed designs and studies to the Ministry of Transport. The company is also working with global partners, including Oliver Wyman, to make sure the project meets world-class technical standards.
According to Bonini, several countries — Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman — have already shown strong interest in joining the project, while Saudi Arabia is expected to participate once the remaining studies are complete.
High-Speed Rail and Highway Corridor
The project includes plans for a high-speed passenger railway, with trains running up to 300 km/h, cutting travel time between Basra and Baghdad to just 90 minutes. Alongside the railway, a major international highway will run from Umm Qasr Port in southern Iraq to the northern border, allowing for fast and efficient movement of cargo across the country.
Economic Impact and Job Creation
Once completed, the Development Road is expected to create between 100,000 and 150,000 jobs, boost trade, and strengthen Iraq’s role as a regional transport hub. The long-term plan — which runs through 2050 — also includes the creation of industrial and economic cities along the route. These will be designed around each province’s economic strengths, such as oil and petrochemical industries in Basra and agriculture-based manufacturing in Karbala and Najaf.
Next Steps
Bonini confirmed that the remaining 25 percent of the design and study phase will be completed within the next three months. After that, Iraq’s Ministry of Transport plans to open a global bidding platform for international companies to compete for contracts in the project’s execution phase.
BTP Infrastrutture, originally part of Progetti Europa & Global S.p.A. (PEG), became an independent firm in March 2022 after its rebranding from PEG Infrastrutture S.p.A.
