The bidding process to secure the rights to organize paid parking spaces on Tashkent's streets concluded on E-auksion, with the local joint venture Balcomuz emerging as the winner. The auction, which lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes and involved 22 bidding steps, saw Balcomuz offer an annual rental rate of 120.2bn soums ($9.3mn), more than double the starting price.
The Tashkent city administration initiated the process for introducing a unified paid parking system earlier this year. The auction winner will operate 262,800 square meters of parking spaces across all districts of the capital for three years and must invest at least $5mn in the technical equipment for these facilities.
According to the decree signed in October by Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov, the city plans to create 13,200 paid parking spaces by August 2025, eventually expanding to 84,000 spaces. Parking charges will vary by zone, with rates ranging from 5,000 soums ($0.38) to 12,000 soums ($0.93) per hour. The system is scheduled to be fully automated and operational by the end of 2024.
Balcomuz, the joint venture awarded the contract, was established in January 2020 in Tashkent. While primarily operating in the catering and food delivery sector, the company has diversified into multiple industries, including IT (Balcomsoft), trade, construction, and consulting.
The company is majority-owned by Balcom, a Japanese firm holding a 60% stake. Other shareholders include Avazbek Nuriddinov, the company’s director (20%), and Bobur Akramov and Anvar Khoshimov, each holding a 10% stake. Balcomuz also manages Central Park in Tashkent, the Flamingo restaurant in Namangan, and other ventures. Its website describes the company as a “bridge between Japan and Uzbekistan.”
As the paid parking operator, Balcomuz is required to oversee the development of the parking system and ensure compliance with technical requirements. The company must allocate the agreed investment to install automated systems and implement a unified management platform.
The system will divide parking zones into five categories, providing tailored pricing based on location and demand. The introduction of the system is expected to address parking challenges in the capital, reduce congestion, and improve traffic flow.
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