On May 13, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the performance and planned projects in the road sector.
By the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated October 10, 2023, the management of the sphere has been improved, long-term tasks on construction, repair and maintenance of roads have been set. Over the past two years, 26 trillion soums have been allocated for these purposes, a total of 40 thousand kilometers of roads and 540 bridges have been repaired. Funds attracted to the sphere from abroad have tripled.
However, there is still a significant amount of work to accomplish. This year it is planned to build and repair 7 thousand kilometers of public roads and 231 bridges, cover 13 thousand kilometers of unpaved roads with crushed stone, build 400 kilometers of cement concrete roads, as well as create 72 road service complexes along the highways.
At the presentation, the responsible persons reported on the upcoming work.
When defining new projects, special attention is paid to the current condition and level of road congestion. Today, six major projects on reconstruction of 1.2 thousand kilometers of roads are being implemented jointly with international financial institutions.
Four more projects are planned to be launched. Among them – removal of the A-380 highway outside the cities of Turtkul and Beruni, repair of 516 kilometers of roads in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region, construction of roads with cement concrete pavement on the sections Termez – Denau and Syrdarya – Bakht. Funds from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will be attracted for the implementation of these projects.
The Head of State noted that the most important issue is the quality maintenance of roads. Instructions have been given to develop roadside infrastructure and create conveniences for the population.
A stationary weight control post was put into operation at the Kamchik Pass. Similar checkpoints should be established on other roads with high traffic.
It should be noted that the Law “On Highways”, adopted about 20 years ago, does not meet modern requirements and does not take into account the latest reforms and topical issues.
In this regard, a new version of the law is being prepared, in which, among other things, it is planned to introduce a mechanism of “road activity planning” in order to develop road infrastructure in accordance with the growing needs of the population and the economy. Strict requirements are introduced to take into account public opinion, environmental impact, and mandatory creation of a barrier-free environment for pedestrians. Provision is made for compensation of the costs of road rehabilitation after the installation of communication networks.
In addition, the draft law will define the legal basis for toll roads, requirements for the placement of service facilities in roadside zones, and regulate the movement of large and heavy vehicles.
The presentation also included reports of responsible persons on the implementation of projects for the construction of alternative roads based on public-private partnership.