The Bishkek municipality and the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Fund for Digital Initiatives are considering two major environmental projects to tackle air pollution and enhance the quality of life in Kyrgyzstan’s capital.
The proposals were reviewed during a meeting on May 21 between Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliyev and Tigran Sargsyan, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board and head of the EDB’s Fund for Digital Initiatives.
According to the municipal government, the first project involves establishing a comprehensive air quality monitoring system based on a digital platform. The system is designed to address the city’s chronic air pollution by providing government bodies with real-time data on key emission sources. It would also enable assessments of contributions from industrial activities and natural background pollutants.
The second project envisions an intelligent transport monitoring system aimed at improving traffic flow modeling and management. The goal is to optimize the city’s public transport network, reduce congestion, and enhance urban mobility, all while improving environmental conditions.
Transport and Air Quality: Pressing Challenges for Bishkek
Traffic congestion and outdated public transport are among the most pressing issues in Bishkek, a city undergoing rapid population growth. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, motor vehicles are responsible for 27% of the city’s air pollution. With over 600,000 registered vehicles, nearly double the city’s road infrastructure capacity of 350,000, Bishkek’s air quality continues to decline.
More than 333,000 of these vehicles are over 15 years old, contributing significantly to emissions. Nonetheless, the city has taken steps to modernize its public transport fleet, including replacing aging diesel-powered buses with larger, eco-friendlier models powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Air pollution is especially severe during the winter months when coal burning for household heating, accounting for 40% of the city’s emissions, surges. As a result, Bishkek frequently ranks among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on IQAir’s global air quality index.
The proposed EDB-backed projects represent a potential turning point for Bishkek’s environmental management strategy, offering digital tools and policy solutions to address longstanding public health and urban planning challenges.
