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Transport

Metro Expansion Key to Almaty Infrastructure Plans

Next year, Almaty plans another incremental step in the development of its public transport infrastructure with the opening of a new station at Kalkaman. This should see the tentacles of the transport system shift towards the west of the city. In the future, there are also plans to extend the metro north to Alatau, where the government’s “smart city” is being developed. Investment in public transport is welcome, particularly with vocal complaints from residents about ever-increasing traffic problems and their contribution to the city’s winter smog. “The expansion of the metro is considered one of the key tools for improving the environmental situation in Almaty,” a spokesperson for the Almaty mayor’s office (or Akimat), told The Times of Central Asia. “Increasing the share of passenger transportation via the subway reduces the use of cars, decreases traffic congestion, lowers emissions, and contributes to improved air quality.” The ambitious new metro project is in addition to over 600 new buses expected to be added to the Almaty Bus fleet this year. But despite these schemes, the traffic problem shows little sign of abating. It begs the question: has the city got public transport priorities right? [caption id="attachment_39565" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] New-look trolleybuses and electro-buses can be seen as part of Almaty’s modern fleet; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] The rise of the automobile “Traffic jams in Almaty began in the early 2000s, when the economic situation improved and people started buying cars,” Dauren Alimbekov, a high-profile blogger on Almaty transport, told The Times of Central Asia. He adds that the privatisation of other forms of public transport exacerbated this problem. The tram network was suspended in 2015 after two high-profile accidents, with the tracks being dismantled in 2017. Its disappearance coincided almost exactly with the arrival of ride-hailing services such as Yandex Go! in July 2016. By 2023, over 200,000 residents were moonlighting as Yandex Go! drivers to earn extra money. “In recent decades, the city has been planned with cars in mind, with major thoroughfares such as Al-Farabi almost totally lacking in convenient pedestrian crossings,” said Alimbekov. This influx of drivers has created problems. Private cars are a major contributor to air pollution in the city. On some days earlier this year, Almaty recorded the worst pollution in the world. [caption id="attachment_39564" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] A lack of dedicated bus lanes slows journey times and prevents more people from using public transport; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] Public transport That is not to say that there is no public transport in the city. Indeed, the Almaty Metro is the only metro system in the former Soviet Union to have opened since the collapse of communism. Trains began running in 2011, but they only travelled between an initial five stations. Two more opened in 2015, which saw a spike in passenger numbers. Today, there are eleven stations, although most of these remain along Abay Avenue, giving it little practical value to most residents. The metro system does not connect to either of the city’s...

TCA Interviews

Lifting Off: Kazakhstan’s Push Into Next-Gen Aviation Technologies

Kazakhstan’s plans to create an air taxi system based on electric eVTOLs in the city of Alatau have drawn attention to the country’s readiness to take the lead in implementing advanced unmanned technologies. The project would require large-scale changes in regulation and technological infrastructure, as well as personnel training and risk assessment. The Times of Central Asia discussed these futuristic developments with Aslan Satzhanov, acting CEO of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC. Goals and Expected Results TCA: What is the Concept for the Development of Civil Unmanned Aviation in Kazakhstan, and what does it provide for? What are the key goals set out in the document? Satzhanov: In accordance with the government decree, the main goals for the development of civil unmanned aviation are to increase the volume of work using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), de-bureaucratize, digitize, and transform existing requirements, procedures, and processes. The principal aim is to simplify the formalities for performing UAS flights in designated airspace as much as possible. The development of the industry is based on the principles of safety, minimization of risks to people and objects, and the creation of the most favorable conditions for technological growth. Key approaches include establishing a scientific foundation, improving the training system, and expanding the scope of UAS applications. By 2031, it is planned that at least 80% of secondary and vocational education institutions will teach the basics of unmanned aviation. The share of enterprises in the agro-industrial complex (AIC), industry, and energy that use UAVs will grow by at least 30%. The localization of production of key UAS components in Kazakhstan will increase to 10%. In addition, Kazakhstani companies will be able to enter promising segments of the global market for unmanned aerial vehicles and software. Regulation and Legislative Framework TCA: How is the regulation of UAV flights and production structured today? To what extent does the regulatory framework meet modern requirements? Satzhanov: The fundamental document is the Rules for the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, adopted back in 2020. Kazakhstan became the first country in the post-Soviet space to approve comprehensive rules for the use of UAS in its airspace. Later, amendments were made to the Law on the Use of Airspace. Based on these amendments, the rules for the use of airspace for UAS operations were updated in 2023. Thus, the regulatory framework has been fully established. It is in line with global trends from urban air mobility to unmanned taxis and strikes a balance between technological development and flight safety. The transition to eVTOL and urban air mobility will create a new transport ecosystem: it increases population mobility, reduces the load on ground infrastructure, improves the environmental situation, and promotes innovation. Training TCA: What measures are planned for training UAV operators and introducing unmanned technologies into educational programs? Satzhanov: The concept provides for the creation of a multi-level training and professional development system. Modules on civil unmanned aviation will be introduced into secondary and vocational education programs, covering at least 80% of educational...

Transport

Alatau to Become First City in Kazakhstan with Air Taxi System

Alatau, a newly established city in southern Kazakhstan near the country’s largest metropolis, Almaty, is set to become the first in the nation to launch an air taxi system. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development recently signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. based Joby Aero, Inc. for the purchase of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft valued at approximately $300 million. The aircraft will form the basis of a new urban air mobility system. The agreement also includes Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd., a local operator and integrator of air mobility technologies, and Vyacheslav Kim, chairman of the board of directors at Kaspi.kz and a key investor in the Alatau City development project. Plans for the construction of Alatau City were unveiled in late 2024, when four villages near Almaty were merged to create a new urban agglomeration. The city aims to attract $7.2 billion in investment and grow to a population of 2 million. It will also be part of a special economic zone that includes more than 170 planned projects worth a combined $24.4 billion. Authorities hope to position Alatau as a leading destination for investors. Joby Aero, Inc., a global leader in eVTOL aviation and the developer of certified electric air taxis, will supply aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing. These aircraft will anchor Kazakhstan’s first urban air mobility initiative. The agreement also includes the creation of a testing site in southern Kazakhstan for certification and demonstration flights, along with plans to integrate air taxis into the transport systems of both Alatau and Almaty. Joby’s electric aircraft can travel up to 160 kilometers on a single charge and reach speeds of up to 322 km/h. The distance between Almaty and Alatau is approximately 34 kilometers. “Kazakhstan is taking a step into the future of innovative transport. The purchase of electric eVTOL aircraft marks an important milestone in developing smart cities and integrating cutting-edge technologies,” said Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. “This move will shape Alatau as a city built on the technologies of tomorrow.” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities plan to launch commercial air taxi operations as early as next year.

Automotive Industry

Škoda Group Plans Joint Venture to Assemble Railway Vehicles in Uzbekistan

Czech manufacturer Škoda Group has announced plans to establish a joint venture in Uzbekistan to assemble railway transport vehicles, according to a statement from the company’s press service. The initiative was unveiled during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Belgium on October 24, where he held a roundtable meeting with top European business leaders. Among the participants was Škoda Group CEO Petr Novotný, who described Central Asia as a highly promising market. Novotný presented the company’s strategic roadmap for entering Uzbekistan, backed by support from the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. The proposed joint venture will focus on three key areas: assembling railway vehicles under local conditions, providing long-term maintenance and repair services, and launching a Škoda Academy to train and upskill Uzbek specialists. “Each of the three areas represents a concrete step toward fulfilling the new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the European Global Gateway strategy. We consider Uzbekistan to be a country opening up to new investments from European business partners. It has long been in our sights in terms of our strategic ambitions. We therefore very much welcome the opportunity to contribute to the development of sustainable transport, education, and technological modernization in the local market,” Novotný said. Škoda emphasized that the project aligns with Uzbekistan’s national goals to modernize its transport infrastructure and deepen partnerships with European industry. The company said that high-level discussions in Brussels underscored the strong potential for European technology and expertise to support the sustainable transformation of Uzbekistan’s railway sector.

Transport

New Highway Links Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul with Almaty in Kazakhstan

On September 29, a new highway was opened connecting the village of Tyup, in the northeastern part of Lake Issyk-Kul, with Kegen in Kazakhstan’s Almaty region. The 52-kilometer Tyup-Kegen road is of strategic significance, linking Kyrgyzstan’s most prominent tourist destination, Lake Issyk-Kul, with Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, via the existing route through Kegen. This new corridor creates a direct 280-kilometer connection between Almaty and the northeastern shore of Issyk-Kul, significantly shortening the previous route to the lake’s northern edge. While the straight-line distance between Almaty and Issyk-Kul is only about 80 kilometers, travelers were previously forced to detour through Bishkek due to mountainous terrain. The journey to Cholpon-Ata, the largest resort town on the lake’s northern shore, used to span 460 kilometers and could take up to eight hours. Lake Issyk-Kul remains a top summer getaway for the region, particularly for Almaty residents seeking short weekend retreats. [caption id="attachment_36786" align="aligncenter" width="352"] @president.kg[/caption] The Times of Central Asia previously reported on the progress of long-standing plans to establish a more direct road between Almaty and Issyk-Kul. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed a memorandum of understanding in 2007 for a route bypassing Bishkek, running through Uzynagash and Kemin and connecting directly to Cholpon-Ata. That project, however, stalled in its early stages. If completed, it would have reduced the travel distance to roughly 260 kilometers and substantially cut travel time. In June, Asman Airlines launched regular passenger flights from Almaty to Tamchy Airport on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, further strengthening cross-border travel links. Experts believe the opening of the Tyup-Kegen highway will benefit not only tourism but also trade and cross-border cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Enhanced transport accessibility is expected to stimulate small and medium-sized enterprises, boost agricultural trade and food supply chains, and create new employment opportunities for local communities. In addition, the new route offers expanded opportunities for logistics companies and the tourism sector, paving the way for deeper regional engagement between the two neighboring countries.

Transport

Trans-Afghan Corridor Becomes Central Asia’s New Trade Gateway Amid Competition

Kazakhstan plans to join in the Trans-Afghan Corridor project by constructing a 120-kilometer railway from Turgundi to Herat and establishing a transport and logistics center on Afghan territory. The new route is expected to expand the volume and improve the efficiency of Kazakhstan’s export and import shipments, while also providing access to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, and the Persian Gulf. In August, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, Serik Zhumangarin, announced that the country plans to invest $500 million in the construction of the Turgundi-Herat railway in Afghanistan. The 120-kilometer line will provide the shortest route to the Indian Ocean, linking Kazakhstan and Central Asia with Pakistan’s seaports of Karachi and Gwadar. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Zhanibek Taizhanov, told The Times of Central Asia that the project is expected to take about three years from the approval of the design and cost documentation. “More precise timelines will be determined after the completion of all design stages, approvals, and the signing of contracts with contractors and investors,” said the ministry representative. The railway will give Kazakhstan access to new transport routes and markets. Amid intensifying global competition for transit flows, it offers a cheaper alternative shipping option and represents an important new logistics solution for the republic. This promising route, however, also carries risks, as Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most unstable countries. Even so, trade potential between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan is considerable. In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached $545.2 million, with $527.7 million accounted for by Kazakh exports. Kazakhstan remains one of Afghanistan’s largest trading partners and a leading supplier of grain and flour. Looking ahead to exports and imports moving toward Pakistan, India, and beyond, the potential is considerable. Yet market participants have repeatedly noted that logistics remains the main barrier to trade in this direction. “Projected freight volumes along the route are estimated at 35–40 million tons per year. A comprehensive study of the region’s economic potential, logistics flows, and expansion prospects is underway,” Taizhanov told TCA, adding that once operational, the line is expected to become a crucial link in the international transport system, boosting trade between Central Asia and South Asia. In Afghanistan, the Taliban resumed nearly all regional and interregional transport projects initiated under the previous government. Active negotiations are underway on the construction of the Termez–Naibabad–Maidan Shahr–Logar–Kharlachi line, commonly referred to as the “Kabul Corridor,” the Mazar-i-Sharif–Herat railway, and the completion of the Khaf–Herat line, among others. Regional countries have also joined this large-scale effort. The Trans-Afghan project involves the interests of Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, all of which are seeking to benefit from its implementation. Geopolitics and transport interests In pursuit of greater export, import, and transit opportunities, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are actively participating in these initiatives, offering their own rail routes through Afghanistan to Pakistan’s borders. For Iran and Tajikistan, the transnational corridor through Afghanistan is also attractive, providing a potential route to China via Kyrgyzstan. Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan plan to...