President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the ceremony inaugurating the newly constructed 240-kilometer section of the Kungirot-Beineu highway on October 25. The ceremony highlighted the road's potential to serve as a vital logistics network connecting the nation to European markets via the Caspian and Black Sea ports.
"This road will become a logistics network that reliably connects our country with European markets through the ports of the Caspian and Black Seas," President Mirziyoyev stated during the event.
The highway is strategically important, facilitating international transportation that will reduce travel distances by up to 1,000 kilometers and cut transportation costs by 25%.
The Kungrad–Beyneu highway modernization project, undertaken from 2021 to 2024 at a cost of $323mn, aimed to improve accessibility and reliability in the harsh climatic conditions of the Aral Bay region. The road now meets global standards, ensuring smooth and safe travel for both local residents and international tourists.
In addition to enhancing transport efficiency, the road is expected to triple daily traffic along the A-380 international corridor, significantly boosting economic activity in the region. Earlier this year, President Mirziyoyev inaugurated a new bridge linking Karakalpakstan and Khorezm, further enhancing connectivity.
The new highway is projected to stimulate local economies by creating over 200 trade and service facilities and industrial enterprises along its route, generating an initial 2,000 jobs and potentially 5,000 more in the future. The economic impact is substantial, with an anticipated increase of $200mn per year in transit services and a boost of at least $300mn in exports.
"More than 1mn people living in the districts of the Turkul, Ellikkala, Beruniy, Nukus, Khodjeyli, Shumanay, Kanlykul, Karauzyak, and Kungrad will experience improvements in their lives," the president noted.
President Mirziyoyev expressed gratitude to the builders and contractors involved in the project, including contributions from the Asian Development Bank and international firms from Turkey, Azerbaijan, China, South Korea, and Italy. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure development in enhancing people's quality of life and economic prospects.
During the ceremony, a new monitoring system for engineering structures was introduced, featuring electronic transmitters installed at key points on bridges to ensure ongoing safety assessments. This innovative approach allows for real-time monitoring and timely interventions, extending the longevity of infrastructure while also reducing operational costs.
The president also opened a new overpass on Babur Street leading to Tashkent International Airport, a project designed to handle 5,000 cars per hour and significantly improve traffic flow.
Looking to the future, President Mirziyoyev outlined plans for extensive road reconstruction and repair, with a target of 2,000 kilometers of roads to be rebuilt and 100,000 kilometers repaired over the next eight years. Collaboration with foreign companies is set to yield ten major projects aimed at adding another thousand kilometers of roads next year.
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