• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00196 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09217 0.55%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28615 0.14%
08 February 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 5

Shopping Center May Be Built Beneath Bishkek’s Ala-Too Square

Bishkek authorities are moving forward with plans to reconstruct the Manas monument and the underground space beneath it in Ala-Too Square, the capital’s central public space. According to the Bishkek Mayor’s Office, the 1,500-square-meter area beneath the monument is currently unused. According to tender documents published on the government procurement website, the basement beneath Ala-Too Square is set to be redeveloped into retail space. The estimated cost of the reconstruction project is KGS 1.8 million ($20,600). “We want to renovate the basement area - it has been in a dilapidated state since 1983 due to lack of maintenance. As for the future, we are considering various possibilities for the space. However, it is important to clarify that the Manas monument will not be removed,” Bishkek Mayor’s Office spokeswoman Nazgul Zhamgyrchieva told reporters. Despite this reassurance, some Bishkek residents remain concerned, particularly since the Manas monument has already been removed from its pedestal as part of the reconstruction. Many fear it may not be returned to its original place. The monument to Manas, a symbol of Kyrgyzstan’s national heritage, has stood in Ala-Too Square since 2011. Alongside the White House, the National Historical Museum, and the national flag, it forms part of Bishkek’s so-called "marble center", a key landmark in the capital.

Prisons Being Relocated from Kyrgyzstan’s Major Cities

Construction of a new detention center has begun in Kyrgyzstan’s Chuy region as part of a broader effort to relocate prisons from major urban areas. The facility will replace the aging SIZO-1, which has operated for 50 years in the center of Bishkek. Deputy Chairman of the Correctional Service Kemel Sydykov announced the initiative during a parliamentary session. Many of Kyrgyzstan’s prisons and detention centers were built in the 1950s and 1960s and no longer meet modern standards for housing inmates. In addition to their outdated infrastructure, these facilities occupy valuable city land, prompting authorities to systematically phase them out. “Construction work has begun on the relocation of SIZO-1. The new detention center will be situated in the Issyk-Ata district of Chuy region. We have been given strict deadlines—to complete construction by the end of the year. The vacated land will be transferred to the state,” Sydykov told MPs. Nationwide Prison Relocation Efforts The Correctional Service has been implementing similar projects across the country. Last year, a new detention center was commissioned in the city of Jalal-Abad, designed to meet modern incarceration standards. Sydykov also confirmed that remand centers in Karakol and Osh are set to be relocated, with land already allocated and construction work expected to begin soon. A few years ago, authorities in Bishkek demolished Colony No. 47, which was located on the city's western outskirts. The site was redeveloped into a residential microdistrict with 900 apartments. Notably, former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev served part of his sentence in that facility. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, many detention facilities in Kyrgyzstan fail to meet international standards, underscoring the urgent need for modernized infrastructure.

Bishkek Authorities Plan to Relocate Railroad and Build Expressway

Bishkek City Hall has unveiled plans to relocate the railroad from the city center to the outskirts, replacing it with an expressway and residential developments with integrated shopping centers. While the initiative aims to modernize the capital's infrastructure, it has drawn criticism from experts in transportation and urban planning. Plans for Relocation Bishkek Mayor Aibek Junushaliev outlined the project during a parliamentary session, revealing that the new railroad route would be constructed near the northern bypass road. The Chinese company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has expressed readiness to finance the project, which is estimated to cost $550 million. In exchange, CRBC is seeking ownership of the land vacated by the current railroad. Alternatively, the city is also exploring the possibility of self-financing the project. “We've conducted the necessary studies. Relocating the railroad to the south of Bishkek would harm the environment, so we decided to move it to the north, outside the city,” Junushaliev explained. He added that the project would include the creation of a new transportation hub with a railroad and a modern railway station. CRBC recently presented several potential routes for the relocated railroad during a working meeting with city officials. Criticism from Experts Despite the ambitious nature of the proposal, the plan has been met with skepticism from some in Kyrgyzstan. Specialists in transport infrastructure argue that Bishkek’s traffic congestion issues would be better addressed by improving traffic regulation and constructing multi-level interchanges, rather than embarking on an expensive relocation project. Talant Sadakbayev, head of the Independent Engineering Association, emphasized the need for detailed planning and feasibility studies before proceeding. “Relocating the railroad will involve more than just moving the tracks—it will require rebuilding the entire railroad infrastructure, including stations, sidings, signal systems, and freight loading and unloading facilities. This is a complex and costly endeavor,” Sadakbayev told The Times of Central Asia. He added that Kyrgyzstan already has affordable access to reinforced concrete due to production quarries near Bishkek, suggesting that constructing an expressway over the existing railroad could be a more cost-effective solution. Challenges and Alternative Solutions Sadakbayev questioned whether the proposed expressway would deliver the anticipated benefits, stressing the importance of data-driven planning. “Authorities need to analyze cellular data to determine where people live and work, as well as how cargo and passenger traffic is organized. In some areas, solutions might involve widening streets, improving traffic signals, or simply changing road markings,” he said. Sadakbayev also noted that Bishkek’s road network problems are not being addressed comprehensively, leading to persistent traffic congestion. He criticized the lack of specialized expertise within city authorities, pointing to this as a barrier to effective urban planning. Future Developments In addition to the railroad relocation project, the mayor’s office is planning to build new traffic interchanges to alleviate congestion. CRBC is also expected to participate in these developments. According to Mayor Junushaliev, construction on three overpasses in different parts of Bishkek will commence in the near future. While the relocation of the railroad and the construction...

Astana’s Long-Awaited LRT Project Set to Launch Next Year

Zhenis Kassymbek, the Akim (governor) of Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, has announced that the city’s first light rail transit (LRT) line will launch by the end of next year, marking a significant milestone in a 13-year-long construction project fraught with delays and controversies. The LRT project, envisioned as a high-speed transport system running on elevated tracks to bypass traffic, began construction in 2011. Initially, the line was slated for completion by 2017 to coincide with the EXPO international exhibition. It was intended to connect the Astana-Nurly Zhol railway station with the capital’s airport. While the railway station opened on time, the LRT project was halted in 2013 due to high costs and concerns over its financial viability. The project was revived in 2015 when Astana’s Akimat signed a construction deal with a consortium of Chinese companies, China Railway International Group Limited and Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co., Ltd. However, further delays occurred when funds — amounting to over 80 billion tenge ($200 million at the time) — were frozen in the accounts of the now-defunct Bank of Astana. Construction began with the installation of support pillars, but the Chinese contractors abandoned the project due to funding issues. In 2019, Kazakhstan’s investigative authorities intervened. Talgat Ardan, the former head of Astana LRT, and Kanat Sultanbekov, an ex-deputy mayor of Astana, were accused of embezzling nearly 30 billion tenge. This included inflating project costs and awarding overpriced contracts. Both were sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison in May 2023. Despite initial skepticism from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who questioned the project’s ridership potential given its 22-kilometer length and route, the decision was made to proceed. Former Akim Altay Kulginov argued that dismantling the incomplete infrastructure would cost more than completing it. Under Kassymbek, construction has progressed. “The first LRT trains will arrive in August or September next year. We expect to have 15 trains operational by fall, with technical testing by the end of 2024 and full service in early 2026,” Kassymbek stated during a briefing. The elevated tracks are nearing completion, with rail-laying in progress. Signal installation is set to begin in spring. The Akimat anticipates the line will serve approximately 20,000 passengers daily. The fare for LRT rides has yet to be finalized. Kassymbek announced that the pricing would remain affordable. However, he stopped short of providing specifics. In 2017, the proposed fare was 300 tenge per ride, three times the cost of a bus ticket at that time. Current bus fares in Astana range from 110 tenge for regular routes to 250 tenge for express routes. Given the LRT’s total project cost of $1.88 billion, fares significantly higher than bus rates may be needed to achieve profitability. Despite this, the LRT could address pressing issues, such as Astana’s daily traffic jams. Currently, buses are the only public transport option in the city. “We aim to expand roads, increase bridges, and enhance public transport to encourage residents to switch from private vehicles,” Kassymbek said. He also suggested that Turkestan and...

Development Plan for Astana Agglomeration Approved

The plan for the agglomeration of Astana through to 2028 was approved by the government of Kazakhstan on February 27th. The country’s capital since 1997, Astana has since grown and developed into one of the most modern cities in Central Asia. In addition to the city, the agglomeration will include more than 40 nearby towns and villages. Over the past 10 years, the population of Astana has increased by 46%. Records show that in January 2024, it exceeded 1.43 million and by 2035, is expected to grow to 2.3 million people. The key aims of the Astana agglomeration are the improvement of urban development, the modernization of social, engineering and transport infrastructures, environmental sustainability and safety, and safeguarding against emergencies. A unified urban planning policy will enable the synchronization of plans for the development of the capital and adjacent Akmola region, including the creation of eco-towns on an area of over 940 hectares. The new transport and logistics infrastructure will comprise six logistics complexes, a service centre for the maintenance of electric locomotives, and subsidies for suburban routes. Over 400 km of existing roads will be repaired, and 300 km of new roads and four bridges built in agglomerated towns and villages. To attract investment and supply food, 25 facilities to produce food and 12 for industrial goods will be built in an industrial zone covering 300 hectares. At the meeting, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted the fact that the main problem to be addressed by the agglomeration is the sharp population increase in the suburbs and the daily migration to the capital and back, which significantly impacts the entire infrastructure of Astana, its ecology and safety. In recognition of ongoing problems faced by many suburban villages, such as water supply, waste disposal, a stable electricity supply, and the condition of roads, the prime minister stated: "I believe that the implementation of the plan should solve these pressing issues. Moreover, we need to create permanent jobs in the suburbs. Astana as the core of the agglomeration creates prerequisites for sustainable development of the adjacent territories. This will help smooth out the existing imbalance between the living standards in the capital and neighboring settlements."