Areas of High-Rise Development and Water Limits. What is Included in the New General Plan for Bishkek
Plans for the Construction of Bishkek
According to the new general plan, active construction of multi-story residential complexes is expected. More than 60% of new housing is planned to be built in the form of apartment buildings, with almost half of them being high-rise — nine stories and above. Medium-rise buildings will occupy about 11% of the total construction volume, while the share of low-rise houses will be only 10%, which will be built in areas where high-rise construction is prohibited.By 2050, it is planned to construct about 24.8 million square meters of housing in Bishkek, of which approximately 30% will be built according to already existing projects.
As a result, the total volume of residential space in the city will increase to 42.2 million square meters by the specified date, effectively doubling current figures.
Where Will High-Rise Buildings Be Constructed?
Special zones have been designated for high-rise construction. Based on zoning, it is expected that high-rise buildings will be constructed in the following areas:- on the territory of the old racetrack;
- near Aitmatov Street, next to the canal;
- above Aaly Tokombaev Street, where new residential complexes are being built;
- on Ankara Street;
- in the village of Orok, where a new stadium "Bishkek Arena" is also being constructed.
Medium-rise buildings are also planned to be built in the central areas of the city.
Stalins Will Be Preserved
The appearance of the historical center of Bishkek will be preserved. Stalin-era buildings in the center will remain, while in other areas, high-rise buildings may be constructed in their place. Additionally, barrack houses will be replaced with apartment complexes. The city administration emphasizes that the issue of demolishing such objects should be resolved by the owners with investors.Multi-Story Buildings on the Outskirts of the Capital
As a result of the administrative-territorial reform, several villages have been incorporated into Bishkek. During public discussions, residents of these villages raised questions about their land plots. It turned out that some agricultural lands, for example, in the village of Maevka, are designated for residential construction. City residents are concerned about whether their lands will be taken away. Representatives of the city administration assured that private property will remain inviolable, and these plots will be transformed, allowing their owners to unite into cooperatives or enter into agreements with investors for construction.According to Sadyr Japarov, it was stated at the people's kurultai that due to a lack of land, the State Housing Corporation intends to start building low-rise houses in rural areas by 2030.
Expected Population of Bishkek
It is projected that by 2050, the population of the capital will grow to 1.9 million people.Water Resources of the Capital
Currently, Bishkek receives water from the "Bash-Kara-Suu" and "Orto-Alysh" water intakes. To further supply the city, the city administration plans to develop a third source - the Issyk-Ata deposit.However, this volume will be insufficient. The estimated water consumption by 2050 will be about 500,000 cubic meters per day. Authorities intend to introduce limits on drinking water consumption.
Energy Needs of the City
Electricity consumption in Bishkek is expected to increase by approximately 573 MW. This is due to the load on residential buildings, public buildings, and street lighting. Small industrial enterprises will add another approximately 176 MW.To ensure this growth, JSC "NESC" and "BPES" plan to:
- build a 500 kV substation;
- build a 220 kV substation;
- install a double-circuit 220 kV power line.
- build at least three 110/35/10 kV substations;
- reconstruct existing power lines and update outdated equipment at substations.
- modernized CHPP-1;
- CHPP-2, which is planned to be completed and decommissioned;
- solar power plants outside the city (Issyk-Kul region);
- Alaudin cascade of hydropower plants;
- new hydropower plants south of Bishkek;
- mini-CHPP;
- solar panels for private houses.
Reducing Smog Levels
To reduce air pollution levels, 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.
It is also planned to reduce emissions by improving transport infrastructure: bypass roads will be built to exclude transit trucks from residential areas. The development of bike paths and eco-friendly transport, as well as increasing green spaces, will also be part of the smog-fighting strategy.
Increasing Green Zones
According to regulations, there should be at least 16 square meters of green space per resident. Currently, this figure is about 4.5 square meters in Bishkek.In recent years, the area of green zones in the capital has decreased by 20%, exacerbating the air pollution situation, especially in winter. The pollution level exceeds permissible norms by three to five times.
Currently, the area of green spaces is about 450 hectares. It is planned to allocate another 2,950 hectares for new parks, squares, and boulevards, including the use of the city forest park on the heights of Boz-Boltok. By 2050, the area of public green zones should increase to 3,400 hectares.
Some Nuances
It turned out that a number of plots classified as green zones in the general plan are privately owned. The city administration acknowledges that the data will be corrected, and the actual area for greening may be less.Additionally, as noted by Kalicha Umuraliyeva, in the new general plan, some parks and squares have lost their protected status. Authorities promise to address this issue as well.
The "15-Minute City" Concept
The general plan includes the development of the "15-minute city" concept, within which schools, hospitals, and other social facilities will be within walking distance.It is planned to build 174 new schools:
- 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 under the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic at the address: Bishkek, Krivonosova St., 206;
- Maternity Hospital No. 1 at the address: Bishkek, Usenbaev St., 40;
- A medical town in the southeastern part of the capital.
Public Transport in the Capital
Plans for the construction of a metro in Bishkek have been definitively canceled due to the high cost of the project and low passenger traffic. Monorail transport and cable cars are also not considered as options for urban transport, although a cable car may be implemented as a tourist project if investments are available.A tram will be introduced as a new mode of public transport. In the first phase, it is planned to build 28 km of tram lines along Jibek Jolu Avenue, Shabdan Baatyr, Fuchik, and Akhunbaev Streets. Kyiv Street will become pedestrian.
Additionally, the city will have metro buses that will operate on the North-South and North-Center routes.
Development of Bicycle Infrastructure
The general plan provides for the development of infrastructure for scooters, bicycles, and mopeds, with a total length of bike routes of 152 km. The question of where exactly scooter riders should move — on sidewalks or roadways — remains open.New Structure of the City
Currently, the administrative, cultural, and business centers of Bishkek are concentrated in one area. The new general plan proposes to change this model by distributing large facilities across various districts depending on their functional purpose.- The business center will be located near Bishkek-City in the Lenin district.
- Administrative institutions will be located in the southern part of the city along Chingiz Aitmatov Avenue.
- Commercial areas will be located in the "Dordoy," Alamedin, "Talai," "Etalon Stroy," and Osh market areas.
Construction of New Roads
A new railway mainline of 175 km in length is proposed to be created, which will bypass the residential areas of Bishkek. This will allow transit freight trains to be excluded from the city. It is also planned to construct an 11.2 km branch to "Manas" airport and a separate railway station.Additionally, a full-fledged bypass road of 89 km in length around Bishkek will be built, which is necessary for transit transport, redistributing urban 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.
A new bus station for intercity and suburban routes is also planned to be built near the new Osh market and along the Bishkek - "Manas" international airport highway.
Reconstruction of Internal Roads
It is planned to update existing highways with a total length of over 331 km. Some roads will be brought up to modern highway standards, while others will be formatted for regulated traffic.It is also planned to construct new roads with a length of about 255 km, including arterial roads with regulated traffic and new streets of citywide and district level to improve transport accessibility.
The general plan also includes the construction and reconstruction of major road facilities: seven overpasses over the railway, 15 multi-level interchanges, and bridges over rivers and other water obstacles. Their locations have not yet been specified.
Process of Developing the General Plan
Initially, it was planned that the general plan of Bishkek would be developed by the Japanese company Nikken Sekkei. The city administration signed a contract with them for the preparation of the master plan for the city's development. However, later the development of the general plan itself was transferred to the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Prospective Urban Development. The reasons for the change of developer have not been disclosed by the city administration.When asked about the cost of the general plan, the city administration does not provide direct answers. It is only known that the funding was provided by a foreign investor. Vice Mayor Azamat Kadyrov reported that last year an investment project was implemented on the site of the old racetrack. The agreement with the investor (ROX Group) included a clause on financing the development of the general plan, which allowed covering all expenses through the foreign investor.
Problems in the Discussion Process
The discussions of the general plan have not been without problems. Speculations in the land market arose during the process, and false information about changes in the status of plots was spread. Fraudsters tried to take advantage of the expectations of city residents. The city administration urges residents to rely only on official sources and not to fall for the tricks of scammers.Date of Approval of the General Plan
It is expected that the new general plan will be adopted after the New Year holidays. After its approval, the development of the detailed planning project will begin, which will clarify the boundaries, placement of objects, number of floors, and density of construction, as well as determine where and what can be built.Subsequently, sectoral schemes will be developed.
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