Urban development - The Times Of Central Asia

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public transport

Survey Reveals 41% of Bishkek Residents Use Private Cars, Exacerbating Air Pollution

As part of preparations for a new urban development plan, Bishkek’s municipal authorities have conducted a comprehensive survey to understand how residents of the capital and its suburbs navigate the city. According to the results, 41% of respondents rely on private transportation, including personal vehicles and taxis, while 38% use municipal public transport, primarily buses. The remaining 21% get around on foot, by bicycle, or by scooter, including electric scooters. The most frequented destination for city residents is the downtown area, which accounts for the majority of work-related and other daily trips. The Bishkek City Administration stated that the survey data will be used to design a more efficient and balanced urban transportation system aimed at enhancing public transit services. Traffic congestion remains a critical issue in Bishkek, a city experiencing rapid population growth. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, motor vehicles, particularly older models lacking catalytic converters, are responsible for approximately 30% of the city’s air pollution. Vehicle numbers in the capital have surged in recent years. Bishkek now hosts more than 700,000 vehicles, nearly double the road infrastructure’s intended capacity of 350,000. Over 300,000 of these vehicles are more than 15 years old, making them significant contributors to harmful emissions. In response, the city has taken steps to modernize its public transportation fleet. Recent initiatives include replacing diesel-powered buses with larger, more environmentally friendly models powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Culture

Urban Night Almaty: Creative Communities and the Future of Central Asia

Ecology, entrepreneurship, and innovation in urban life were the central themes of Urban Night Almaty, a one-day festival held last Saturday in Kazakhstan’s largest city. The event sought to answer a key question: Can small-scale initiatives and grassroots communities meaningfully improve life in a metropolis? Organizers and attendees alike believe they can. The festival drew together a wide array of participants, recycling advocates, artists, artisans, confectioners, cosmetics producers, startup founders, writers, journalists, students, sociologists, urbanists, architects, and entrepreneurs, each contributing to a shared vision of sustainable, inclusive urban development. [caption id="attachment_36181" align="aligncenter" width="350"] @Eduard Galeev[/caption] “Each of us lives in our own information bubble, and events like this push us to step outside of it. We’re all different, but we can achieve something together,” said ecologist Pakizat Sailaubekova. “Looking at the people who came to the festival and how moved they are, it’s inspiring.” Discussion and Decision-Making Urban Night Almaty was organized around several thematic zones. One area was dedicated to public discussions on technology, education, and ecology. Bekežan Kaigaliev, founder of Food Recycling and Aquajem, presented on the use of fly larvae to process organic waste in large cities. Alexey Kupriakov, founder of the Green Workout movement, shared ideas on integrating eco-friendly practices into urban planning. Zhuldyz Saulbekova, CEO of the Almaty Air Initiative, spoke about technological solutions for combatting air pollution and chronic smog. [caption id="attachment_36180" align="aligncenter" width="350"] @Eduard Galeev[/caption] Other panels focused on educational innovation. Journalist and PR expert Anuarbek Zhalel, alongside Nursultan Amirkhan, product manager at Daryn.online, discussed promoting startups and integrating new tools in learning environments. A separate session brought together alumni of U.S. internship programs. Among them were athlete and IT specialist Aina Dosmakhambet, lawyer Zhibek Karamanova, and Yerzhan Nauruzbayev, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree with professional experience across three continents. Practice and Inspiration Beyond the panels, attendees participated in workshops and creative performances. Highlights included a sports-themed cleanup organized by Kupriakov and an urban exploration of Almaty led by the GoroZhanym project. An eco-themed market showcased small-scale producers offering food, toys, jewelry, souvenirs, and hygiene products. Many entrepreneurs shared stories of how their ventures, though modest in scale, contribute to making Almaty cleaner and more future-oriented. [caption id="attachment_36183" align="aligncenter" width="233"] @Eduard Galeev[/caption] “We often speak in terms of global problems, but it’s essential to respect action at the micro level,” said political analyst Dosym Satpaev. “Thanks to social media, even the smallest project can gain traction. The more of these we have, the stronger our creative economy becomes. These are the foundations for national stability, development, and retaining talent.” Satpaev also hosted a futurology session addressing the challenges and prospects artificial intelligence presents for Central Asia. The festival concluded with a tұsaуkeser ceremony, a Kazakh tradition that involves cutting a symbolic cord representing a newborn's first steps. The cords, handcrafted by members of the Niti Dobra movement (which supports premature infants), symbolized renewal and the strengthening of ties between citizens and their city. [caption id="attachment_36179" align="aligncenter" width="350"] @Eduard Galeev[/caption] Regional Reach “Our...

Environment

Bishkek Opens Poplar Nursery to Increase City Tree Cover

Bishkek has launched an experimental nursery dedicated to cultivating hybrid poplars as part of a broader initiative to restore the city’s declining green spaces. The project, spearheaded by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision, aims to support long-term urban reforestation. Located on 24 hectares of land, the nursery is expected to produce up to 200,000 saplings each year. In 2025 alone, 12,000 hybrid poplars have already been planted. The selected variety is suited for urban environments; it does not produce fluff, grows up to two meters annually, and develops straight trunks with high crowns. Tree cuttings are used for continued propagation. Minister Meder Mashiev, who visited the site, stressed the strategic importance of the initiative. “If this business develops, all the problems of city greening can be solved,” he stated. The nursery is expected to reduce dependence on imported saplings and play a key role in reversing urban deforestation while improving air quality in the capital. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Bishkek’s municipality is also collaborating with partners from Qingdao, China, to establish a large-scale tree and shrub nursery. This bilateral project forms part of a broader environmental restoration strategy aimed at strengthening the city’s ecological resilience. Once regarded as one of the greenest cities in the former Soviet Union, Bishkek has experienced a steady decline in tree cover over the past three decades due to rapid urban development. Environmental experts have urged authorities to prioritize planting tall, broadleaf deciduous trees, valued for their shade and noise absorption, rather than the coniferous species currently favored in urban landscaping.

Urban development

Urban Expansion in Astana: Strengths and Strains

July 6 marked Capital Day in Kazakhstan, a national holiday celebrating the country's capital. To mark the occasion, Energyprom.kz released an in-depth analysis of Astana’s socio-economic standing, painting a mixed picture of rapid growth and persistent strain. Competition with Almaty and Global Standing In the 2025 Global City Ranking by Oxford Economics, Astana ranks 276th out of 1,000 cities worldwide. Almaty ranks slightly higher at 258th. While Astana outperforms Almaty in terms of ecological conditions and economic momentum, it lags behind in human capital and quality of life. Both cities are considered national leaders, yet remain far behind the world's top urban centers. According to the National Statistics Bureau, Almaty contributes 21.8% of Kazakhstan’s GDP (29.2 trillion KZT or approximately 56.2 billion USD), while Astana accounts for 11.5% (15.5 trillion KZT or around 29.8 billion USD). In terms of GDP per capita, Astana ranks fourth in the country, behind Atyrau, Ulytau, and Almaty. Its economy is heavily concentrated in services, which make up nearly 80% of its gross regional product. A Magnet for Opportunity and Strain Astana continues to attract internal migrants, particularly from rural regions, largely due to its relatively high wages. The average monthly salary in the capital is 538,000 KZT (around 1,035 USD). Higher salaries are found in resource-rich regions such as Atyrau (633,300 KZT) and Mangistau (580,900 KZT). In Astana, the highest-earning sectors include finance and insurance (1.2 million KZT or 2,310 USD), mining (981,300 KZT or 1,890 USD), and IT (824,600 KZT or 1,587 USD). However, this economic pull has placed growing pressure on the city’s infrastructure. Astana faces ongoing issues related to water supply, sewage systems, disorganized construction, and environmental management. These problems have been highlighted by both President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the public. The High Cost of Living Astana leads the country in housing prices. In 2023, the average cost of a new apartment reached 595,500 KZT per square meter (approximately 1,146 USD). In the secondary market, the average price rose to 649,800 KZT (around 1,250 USD). A typical 50-square-meter two-bedroom apartment costs nearly 29.8 million KZT (about 57,370 USD). For a resident earning the city’s average wage, saving for such a home without loans would take 55 months, or over four and a half years. In comparison, it would take just 2.5 years in Atyrau. Rental prices are also high. The average monthly rent for a 50 square meter apartment in Astana was 248,000 KZT in 2023 (around 477 USD), consuming over 46% of the average monthly wage. Only Almaty and Shymkent have higher rent-to-income ratios at 54.4% and 60.3% respectively. Food costs place additional strain on household budgets. Food accounts for 52% of the average consumer budget in Astana, equivalent to 181,600 KZT (around 349 USD) per person per quarter. Prices for 14 of 19 socially significant food items, including chicken, milk, butter, and vegetables, exceed national averages. Food inflation in the capital remains among the highest in the country. A Capital at a Crossroads Astana remains the political and administrative...

Environment

Bishkek Launches “Living Wall” Project to Tackle Heat and Pollution

Bishkek has launched a pilot project to green the facades of buildings as part of a broader effort to adapt to climate change and mitigate growing heat and air pollution in Kyrgyzstan’s capital. In June, vertical greenery was installed on the facades of three schools and one apartment building under the “1000 Green Walls” program. The initiative is jointly implemented by the environmental organization MoveGreen and the Bishkek municipality, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the development agency Bread for the World. More Than Just Aesthetic Green facades, also known as living walls, offer both visual and environmental benefits. They reduce building surface temperatures, absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and filter dust and pollutants from the air. These vertical gardens also improve sound insulation, protect buildings from temperature extremes, and support urban biodiversity, providing habitat for birds, insects, and butterflies. Two species were selected for the pilot phase: maiden grapes and ivy. Maiden grapes are fast-growing, frost- and drought-resistant vines that create dense green coverage. In addition to insulating buildings, they absorb dust and exhaust emissions, improving local air quality. Their vibrant red foliage in autumn also enhances the city’s visual appeal. Ivy, an evergreen perennial, retains its foliage year-round and provides consistent thermal and acoustic insulation. It is effective in trapping airborne pollutants and helps create a more temperate and pleasant microclimate around buildings. A Scalable Urban Solution The Bishkek municipality views this as a sustainable and scalable urban solution. “These green facades contribute to a more comfortable, ecological, and aesthetically pleasing urban environment,” officials said. The city plans to expand the 1000 Green Walls program to include more schools, kindergartens, and residential buildings in the coming months.

Tashkent

New Project in Tashkent Offers Free Housing to Residents of Wooden Homes

Residents of wooden houses in Yangikhayot will be relocated to new apartments, and an arboretum will be created in their place. Residents of wooden two-story houses in Tashkent's Yangikhayot district will be relocated to the Yangi Mahalla residential complex in two to three years, with families receiving free accommodation in the new complex. The project, the cost of which is estimated at 1.5 trillion-som ($117 million), will affect 409 wooden houses in the Yuldosh (Sputnik) massif, where more than 21,000 people reside. The resettlement will affect 4,341 families, who will be relocated to modern apartment buildings in Gulshanobod mahalla. The project includes the resettlement of residents and landscaping, Yangikhayot District Hokim (head of the local executive authority), Hayot Inogamov and Tashkent Invest Chairman, Bakhrom Shokirov told a November 28 news conference. An arboretum surrounded by perennial trees will replace the old wooden houses. Tashkent Invest developed the resettlement program with the support of the hokimiyat and district administration. The company itself will not participate in the construction of the new houses, but will act as an intermediary between the state and construction organizations, overseeing the fulfillment of the social obligations of investors, and ensuring resettlement of the families. This project will not only improve the living conditions of thousands of residents, but will be an important step towards improving the environmental situation in the neighborhood by creating a new park on the site of the outdated development.