The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has stepped in to expedite the implementation of the Tashkent-Samarkand toll road project in Uzbekistan. The Ministry of Transport reported that on June 24, the head of the department, Ilkhom Makhkamov, held a meeting with representatives from the EBRD to discuss the project's progress.
During the meeting, the parties focused on advancing the development of a feasibility study for the future route. To carry out this task, the EBRD enlisted the services of Turkish company Proyapı Mühendislik ve Müşavirlik A.Ş. The cost of preparing the feasibility study is estimated to be $1.5 mn, which will be covered by a bank grant.
Additionally, the issue of organising a tender to attract a private partner for the construction of the road was addressed during the discussion. Previously, Abdurakhmon Abduvaliev, the former head of Uzavtodor, was relieved of his duties by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev due to the perceived lack of progress on the project. He was replaced by Jamshid Tursunov, who had previously served as the deputy head of the department from 2021 to 2023.
Plans to create toll highways in Uzbekistan have been in the works since the summer of 2018. Initially, there were intentions to entrust the construction of these toll roads to German company GP Günter Papenburg. However, practical implementation faced delays, and the Cabinet of Ministers issued a decree designating 2020 as the starting point for the introduction of toll roads. Despite the issuance of a draft law on toll roads for discussion in the spring of 2019, it was not officially adopted.
During this time, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev initiated the construction of the Tashkent-Samarkand toll highway, involving a consortium of companies, namely Cengiz Enerji, Kalyon, and Kolin. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) proposed speeding up the project's commencement, but it was postponed due to concerns about the high cost of tolls.
Additionally, another toll road project was planned between Tashkent and Andijan, with the route set to include an alternative tunnel in Kamchik. In 2020, it was revealed that a toll road from Samarkand to Shakhrisabz was also part of the infrastructure development plans, with a tunnel intended for the Takhtakoracha pass.
The the PPP Development Agency estimates show that toll fares for passenger cars on the Tashkent-Samarkand and Tashkent-Andijan toll roads are expected to be in the range of $5-6. Speed limits on these toll roads are set to reach up to 150 km/h, providing a faster and more convenient option for travellers.
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