The construction of the Akhalkalaki railway station will start in two weeks within the frameworks of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway construction, Georgian Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Ramaz Nikolaishvili said on August 11, apsny.ge reports. According to Nikolaishvili, the railroad has a strategic importance. A new road with the length of 29 km in the territory of Georgia and a new station will be constructed in Akhalkalaki, district of Georgia's Armenian-populated Samtskhe-Javakhketi province. The project is estimated at over US$ 600 million. For construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, at first Azerbaijan allocate US$ 200 million loan to Georgia, then US$ 575 million. It is planned, that railway will be put into operation at the end of the next year.

As we have reported earlier, Apple was awaiting approval from New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for an ambitious construction project at New York metro Grand Central Terminal. Now New York's famed Grand Central terminal is about to get a new addition. Apple has begun construction of a brand new store located on a 2136 square meters space occupying the north and northeast balconies in Grand Central main hall, reported constructiondigital.com. The Metropolitan Transit Authority, which owns Grand Central and oversees New York's public transit system, gave Apple the green light for the project last month. Once construction is completed this will be Apple's fifth store located in New York City. The store should be ready for business in about four months, potentially just in time for the holiday shopping season. Opened in 1871, Grand Central Terminal is the largest train station in the world with 44 different platforms located on two separate underground levels.

As reported by france24.com, St. Peter's Square will be restored to its 17th-century Baroque glory with a major renovation project due to be completed in 30 months. Work has already begun on part of the famous colonnade designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) - the sculptor and architect behind some of Rome's best-known landmarks. It will restore the colours and the architectural integrity of Bernini's original design said the head of Vatican technical services, Pier Carlo Cuscianna. The project will encompass all of the square's 376 columns and pillars, 140 statues and 1,200 meter in terraces and cornices, as well as the Clementina and Gregoriana fountains and the Egyptian obelisk in the middle. "Generous sponsors" are financing the project, Cuscianna said, without mentioning any names. The Vatican Museums will oversee the work and two Italian companies Italiana Costruzioni and Fratelli Navarra have been selected to carry it out.

As reported by emirates247.com, non-resident Indians in the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries are contributing to build what is claimed to be India's biggest mosque, Share Mubarak Masjid, which will come up in the outskirts of Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, home to a large number of NRIs living in the UAE. Dr MA Hakkim Azhari Kanthapuram, joint secretary of Markazu Ssaquafathi Ssunniyya of Calicut (a leading religious and charitable institution in India, helping the destitute Muslims and orphans in their education and overall socio-cultural development), during his visit to the UAE said, that about one million members of the organisation, many of them living in the UAE, each contributed US$ 22 to build the largest Indian mosque in a proposed Knowledge City, which is located on the outskirts of Calicut. To be built at a cost of US$ 8.8 million, the mosque will have a built-up area of 23 thousand square meters, accommodating up to 30 thousand worshippers. There will be a library for Islamic research and a conference hall where both Muslims and non-Muslims can come in pursuit of knowledge. The mosque will also be surrounded by Moghul-style garden and landscaping. The entire township would cost US$ 265 million. According to article, in Knowledge City will be professional engineering and medical colleges, a multidisciplinary hospital and healthcare city, a shopping mall, star hotels and convention center. The City layout has been finalised and urban planning is going on. Within the next six months, construction work will start. Currently, the biggest Indian mosque is Delhi's Jamia Masjid, built in the 17th century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The Jamia Masjid is built with red sandstone and white marble. About 25 thousand people can pray here at a time.

As reported by press-center of Armenian government five small automated hydropower systems will be constructed in Kotayk region by Hov-Khache LTD. The company in 2010 constructed and put into operation Yotnaxbyur-Garni free-flow water line, which supplies with drinking and irrigation water Garni, Gheghard, Goght, Hatsavan, Geghadir and Vokchaberd villages. According to Hov-Khache agreement with the government, it will be allowed to make a deferred payment of VAT upon the import of turbine-generators till September 2014. The cascade of small hydropower systems is planned to put into operation in 2012.