Repair and Reconstruction - The Times Of Central Asia

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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.

Justice City Agglomeration Prison Repair and Reconstruction

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 In addition to their outdated infrastructure, these facilities occupy valuable city land, prompting authorities to systematically phase them out.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.

Repair and Reconstruction Sport Cultural Heritage Sports

Kazakhstan to Reconstruct Medeu, the World’s Largest High-Altitude Skating Rink

Kazakhstan plans to reconstruct Medeu, the world’s largest high-altitude skating rink, in 2025, expanding its capabilities and modernizing its facilities. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced the initiative in response to a request from senators. Medeu is a high-mountain sports complex located outside Almaty in the Medeu gorge, at an altitude of 1,691 meters above sea level. According to Bektenov, the planned modernization will enhance the rink’s technical specifications, bringing it in line with International Skating Union (ISU) standards for hosting speed skating and figure skating competitions. Additionally, the Almaty City Council (Akimat) aims to expand Medeu’s functionality to accommodate ball hockey (bandy) tournaments, world championships in ice speedway racing, and various ice shows and mass sporting events. Calls for Renovation In late December, Kazakh senators urged the prime minister to take action, noting that Medeu is now 52 years old. “Opened in 1972, it quickly became one of the best ice rinks in the world. In its first year alone, 249 of a possible 375 world records were set on its ice. The clean mountain air, rarefied atmosphere, and glacial meltwater used for ice resurfacing contributed to outstanding athletic performances. For two decades, Medeu led the world in speed skating. However, after the ISU introduced rules requiring competitions to be held in indoor arenas, outdoor rinks lost their prominence. Should we simply accept that a rink built for records is losing its significance? Medeu remains the world’s largest outdoor artificial ice rink, spanning 10,500 square meters and accommodating up to 8,100 spectators,” the senators wrote in their appeal. Proposed Measures To restore Medeu’s global sporting relevance, the senators proposed the following initiatives: Grant Medeu a special ISU status. Establish a high-altitude training center for athletes. Develop facilities for ball hockey (bandy) competitions. Utilize the arena for ice shows and performances by world-class figure skaters. Host stages of the world ice speedway championship. With its historical significance and unique natural conditions, Medeu remains a symbol of Kazakhstan’s sporting legacy. The upcoming renovation aims to ensure it remains a world-class venue for both competitive and recreational ice sports.

Energy EBRD International investment Electricity supply Repair and Reconstruction Investment Projects Energy Infrastructure

Kazakhstan’s Power Grid Revamp Secures €267 Million Backing from EBRD and Canada

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a €267 million financing package for the Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company (KEGOC) to enhance the reliability of the country’s power supply system. The funding comprises a €252 million EBRD loan and a €15 million concessional loan from the Government of Canada. The financial support will enable KEGOC, which oversees more than 27,800 kilometers of overhead transmission lines, to construct approximately 600 kilometers of 500 kV transmission infrastructure. This will facilitate the integration of the West Kazakhstan Power System into the country’s Unified Power System. The initiative is part of the EBRD’s broader efforts to assist Kazakhstan in implementing its long-term decarbonization strategy, aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in the power sector by 2060. It will improve the electricity supply for residents in western Kazakhstan and enable the integration of up to 12 GW of renewable energy capacity nationwide by 2030. Currently, Kazakhstan’s power grid is divided into three separate systems. While the EBRD connected the northern and southern grids in 2004, the West Kazakhstan Power System remains isolated. The project includes the construction of the 500 kV Karabatan-Ulke power line along the Atyrau-Aktobe motorway, the 500 kV Karabatan substation, and the expansion of the switchyards at the Karabatan (220 kV) and Ulke (500 kV) substations. These upgrades will strengthen domestic interconnections and enhance power supply reliability in western Kazakhstan. In addition to infrastructure improvements, the project is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by over 200,000 tons. It is supported by grant funding from the Government of Japan. The EBRD will also provide KEGOC with technical assistance, including piloting digital technologies within the grid, bolstering the system’s resilience to potential cyberattacks, and introducing gender-responsive training programs.

Architecture Repair and Reconstruction History Cultural Heritage

Tashkent Announces International Contest to Design New Entrance Gates

The city authority (hokimiyat) of Tashkent has announced the start of an international competition to develop a sketch concept for four entrance gates to the capital of Uzbekistan. The new gates will be created at the Rohat, Bektemir, Erkin, and Uchkahramon posts. The project should embody modern and traditional ideas, with construction planned to begin by the end of this year. The competition is open to both Uzbek and international participants, and those wishing to participate can submit their works individually or in teams. The three best works will receive cash prizes from 30 to 100 million UZS ($2,350 to $7,800). The winner will be announced on November 30. Until the 19th century, Tashkent was surrounded by a mighty fortress wall divided by 12 gates. At first, the fortress of Binkenta (the former name of Tashkent) had seven gates, but with the city's expansion by 1864, their number reached 12. Since the shape of the city wall coincided with the system of stars, the gates were built according to the location of 12 stars of the Zodiac according to the cycle of Muchal. Thus, 12 gates were the earthly reflection of heavenly luminaries. Tashkent was the only city in the world with such celestial gates. These gates were destroyed, and the fortress wall was demolished in the late 19th century. But in recent years, there have been repeated ideas to restore part of the entrance gates. In June 2022, the Tashkent hokimiyat presented the first sketches for the fortress gates.

Construction Transport and Logistics Infrastructure Development International transport Repair and Reconstruction

Uzbekistan Opens Strategic Highway Link to Europe

A 240km section of the Kungrad-Beineu highway in Uzbekistan has been reopened after reconstruction. The road runs through Uzbekistan’s northwestern region of Karakalpakstan to the border with Kazakhstan. It is part of a strategic highway corridor connecting Uzbekistan with European countries. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that the distance of international transportation through Uzbekistan will now be reduced to 1,000 kilometers, and transportation costs will be lowered by 25 percent. “This road will become part of the logistics network reliably connecting our country with European markets through the Caspian and Black Sea ports. On this section of the international corridor "A-380" that passes through Uzbekistan, the daily traffic flow will increase threefold,” Mirziyoyev noted. In recent years, double-landlocked Uzbekistan has been striving to become a key transit hub in trade turnover between the EU and Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.