Capital Development Plan
The master plan emphasizes multi-story housing, which will account for over 60% of all new construction. High-rise buildings, defined as those with nine stories or more, will make up nearly half of this volume, while mid-rise buildings will constitute about 11%. The share of low-rise construction will be significantly lower—only 10%—and such homes will be built in areas where high-rise development is prohibited.By 2050, it is planned to construct approximately 24.8 million square meters of housing in the capital, with about 30% being built according to already approved projects.
Consequently, the total residential area in Bishkek is expected to reach around 42.2 million square meters by 2050, which means almost a twofold increase over 25 years.
Where Will High-Rise Buildings Be Located?
Special zones have been designated for the construction of high-rise buildings. According to preliminary data, high-rise buildings will be erected in the following areas:- on the territory of the old racetrack;
- along Aitmatov Street near the canal;
- in the area of Aaly Tokombaev Street, where new residential complexes are already being built;
- along Ankara Street;
- in the village of Orok, where the new "Bishkek Arena" stadium is being constructed.
Mid-rise buildings will also be constructed in the city center.
Preservation of Stalinka Buildings
The appearance of the historical part of Bishkek is expected to be preserved. Stalinka buildings in the center will remain, while in other parts of the city, they may be replaced with taller structures. Additionally, multi-story complexes are planned to replace shanties. The city administration emphasizes that this issue should be resolved by property owners in collaboration with investors.Construction of Multi-Story Buildings on the Outskirts
As a result of administrative reform, some villages have become part of Bishkek. Residents of the affected villages have expressed concerns about their land plots. For example, in the village of Maevka, agricultural lands will be transformed into residential areas. The city administration assures that private property will remain inviolable, and owners will be able to either unite in a cooperative to build homes or enter into agreements with investors.Sadyr Japarov, in his speech at the Kurultai, stated that due to a lack of land, the State Investment Company plans to begin construction of low-rise houses in rural areas by 2030.
Population Forecast
By 2050, the population of Bishkek is projected to reach 1.9 million people.Water Resources
Currently, Bishkek receives water from the "Bash-Kara-Suu" and "Orto-Alysh" water intakes. To further ensure the city's water supply, the city administration plans to develop a new source—the Issyk-Ata deposit.However, this may prove insufficient. The expected water consumption for domestic and drinking needs by 2050 is about 500,000 cubic meters per day. Authorities intend to impose limits on drinking water consumption.
Energy Supply for the City
Electricity consumption in Bishkek is forecasted to increase by 573 MW, which includes the load from residential and public buildings, as well as street lighting. Additionally, small industrial enterprises will require about 176 MW.To accommodate this growth, "NESC" and "BPES" have planned:
- the construction of one 500 kV substation;
- the construction of one 220 kV substation;
- the creation of a double-circuit 220 kV power line.
- to build at least three 110/35/10 kV substations;
- to reconstruct existing power lines and replace outdated equipment at substations.
- modernized CHPP-1;
- CHPP-2, which is planned to be completed;
- solar power plants outside the city (in the Issyk-Kul region);
- a cascade of Alamedin hydropower plants;
- new hydropower plants south of Bishkek;
- mini-CHPPs;
- solar panels for individual homes.
Smog and Its Reduction
To combat smog, a phased transition of CHPPs and private heating to cleaner fuel sources, primarily gas, is planned. Boiler houses and power plants will be equipped with modern filters.Industrial enterprises located near residential areas will either be modernized or relocated outside the city.
Emission reductions are also planned through improvements to transport infrastructure: the construction of bypass roads and the removal of transit trucks from residential areas. Additionally, bike paths, eco-friendly transport, and green spaces will be expanded.
Expansion of Green Spaces
According to regulations, there should be 16 square meters of green space per resident, but currently, this figure is about 4.5 square meters.In recent years, the area of green spaces in Bishkek has decreased by approximately 20%, negatively impacting air quality, especially in winter. Pollution levels exceed permissible norms by three to five times.
Currently, the area of green spaces is about 450 hectares, and another 2,950 hectares are planned to be allocated for new parks, squares, and boulevards, including an urban forest park in the heights of Boz-Boltok. By 2050, the area of public green spaces should increase to 3,400 hectares.
Comments on the Master Plan
It has been found that some areas designated as green spaces in the master plan are privately owned. The city administration confirms that this data will be clarified, and the actual area available for greening may be smaller.Also, according to Kalichi Umuraliyeva, several parks and squares have lost their protected status in the new master plan, and the authorities promise to address this issue.
15-Minute City Concept
The master plan includes the development of the "15-Minute City" concept, under which schools, hospitals, and other social facilities will be within walking distance for residents.Construction of 174 new schools is planned:
- 59 in the Lenin district;
- 62 in the October district;
- 35 in the Pervomaisky district;
- 18 in the Sverdlovsk district.
- The National Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics at: Bishkek, Krivonosova St., 206;
- Maternity Hospital No. 1 at: Bishkek, Usenbaeva St., 40;
- A medical town in the southeastern part of the capital.
Public Transport
The idea of building a metro in Bishkek has been definitively rejected due to high costs and low profitability. Monorails and cable cars are also not considered as urban transport. A cable car may only be possible as a tourist project with investment.A tram will be introduced as a new mode of public transport. Initially, the construction of 28 km of tram lines along Jibek Jolu Avenue and the streets of Shabdan Baatyr, Fuchik, and Akhunbaev is planned. Kyiv Street will become pedestrianized.
Additionally, the city will have metro buses connecting the North and South, as well as the North and Center.
Infrastructure Development for Scooters and Bicycles
The master plan includes the creation of infrastructure for scooters, bicycles, and mopeds. The total length of bike routes will be 152 km. However, the issue of where exactly scooter riders should travel—on sidewalks or on the roadway—has not yet been resolved.New Capital Center
In Bishkek, administrative, cultural, and business centers are concentrated in one place. The new master plan proposes to change this by distributing major facilities across different districts according to their purpose.- The business center will be located near Bishkek-City in the Lenin district.
- The administrative center will be situated in the southern part of the city along Chingiz Aitmatov Avenue.
- Shopping centers will be located in the areas of the "Dordoy," Alamedin, "Talai," "Etalon Stroy," and Osh markets.
Construction of New Roads
A new railway mainline of 175 km is planned, which will allow the transfer of transit freight trains outside the city. An 11.2 km branch to Manas Airport and a new railway station are also planned.Another important project is a full-fledged bypass road of 89 km, necessary for redistributing traffic flows and creating additional exits from the southern part of the capital. The southern section of the road, 49.4 km long, will be constructed, while the northern section of the Almaty - Bishkek - Tashkent highway, 39.4 km long, will be reconstructed. The project includes two overpasses over the railway, 15 multi-level interchanges, and off-street pedestrian crossings.
Additionally, near the new Osh market and along the Bishkek - Manas International Airport highway, a new bus station is planned to serve intercity and suburban routes.
Reconstruction of Internal Roads
The update of existing highways with a total length of over 331 km is planned. Some roads will meet the standards of high-speed highways, while others will follow the format of regulated traffic.The master plan also includes the creation of new roads with a total length of about 255 km, which will include both main roads with regulated traffic and new streets connecting various parts of the capital and alleviating congested routes.
In addition, the construction and reconstruction of major road facilities is planned: seven overpasses over the railway, 15 multi-level interchanges, and bridges over rivers and other water obstacles.
The exact locations for these roads have not yet been determined.
Process of Developing the Master Plan
Initially, it was planned that the master plan would be developed by the Japanese company Nikken Sekkei. At the government's direction, the city administration signed a contract with them for the preparation of a master development plan for the city. However, later the development of the master plan itself was transferred to the St. Petersburg Scientific Research Institute of Future Urban Planning. The reasons for changing the developer have not been specified by the city administration.When asked about the cost of the master plan, the city administration does not provide a clear answer. It is only known that the funding was provided by a foreign investor. Deputy Mayor Azamat Kadyrov reported that last year an investment project was implemented on the site of the old racetrack, which included funding for the development of the master plan.
Issues in Discussing the Master Plan
There have also been difficulties. During the discussions of the master plan, there were speculations in the land market, and false information about changes in the status of land plots was spread. Fraudsters attempted to exploit citizens' expectations for their benefit. The city administration urges people to rely only on official sources of information and not to fall for the tricks of scammers.Timeline for Approving the Master Plan
The document is expected to be approved after the New Year holidays. Following its approval, the development of the detailed planning project will begin, which will clearly outline the boundaries, placement of facilities, number of floors and density of construction, as well as permitted types of development.Subsequently, sectoral schemes will be prepared.
