Tashkent launches Telegram bot for illegal construction complaints

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The General Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan has launched a dedicated Telegram bot for residents of Tashkent to report suspected illegal construction, the National Committee on Urbanization said.

Residents can use the service to report unauthorized construction near residential buildings, on children’s and sports playgrounds, in green areas and other public spaces. The bot is available on Telegram at @noqonuniy_qurilish_bot.

The initiative is aimed at preserving Tashkent’s architectural appearance, ensuring compliance with urban planning requirements and preventing illegal construction.

The launch follows an instruction by Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration, to conduct an inventory of all construction sites in Tashkent located near residential buildings. At the end of July, she instructed the General Prosecutor’s Office to inspect such sites across the capital.

The instruction followed a situation in the Lolazor mahalla of Mirabad district, where a plot was transferred to an investor for the planned construction of a business center on the site of a children’s playground. According to the information presented, a fence was installed around the area in 2023, after which the mahalla committee building and the children’s playground were demolished.

Aziz Azimov, first deputy head of the Department of Public Security and Rule of Law at the Presidential Administration, said the plot had been transferred to an investor who had promised to make investments. Over time, however, the area fell into disrepair.

Commenting on the situation, Saida Mirziyoyeva said a common pattern involved areas first being left without proper maintenance, then fenced off, followed by the cutting down of trees and preparations for further construction.

Tashkent Prosecutor Anvar Urmanov was instructed to investigate similar cases across the capital. Deputy Prosecutor General Salom Samadov said a criminal case had been opened after information about the situation in Lolazor mahalla was received.

According to Azimov, the fences installed in the mahalla are to be removed, the children’s playground restored and the plot returned for residents’ use. Saida Mirziyoyeva instructed Salom Samadov to oversee the situation.

The increased scrutiny of construction is also taking place as Uzbekistan considers tougher penalties for violations of urban planning requirements. On 11 August, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis approved in its first reading a bill providing for increased liability for a number of violations.

The bill proposes financial penalties for serious violations, including construction and installation work carried out contrary to a general plan, master plan or project documentation; construction without design documents; development of facilities that do not correspond to the designated use of a land plot; and the construction, reconstruction or major renovation of buildings without notifying the authorized body.

The proposed fine is 5 basic calculation units for each square meter of the facility constructed by the time the violation is detected. The original material gives the amount as 2.06 million soums, rising to 2.2 million soums from 1 September.

Payment of the fine would not exempt violators from liability for illegal construction.

The new Telegram bot therefore provides an additional channel for identifying urban planning violations in Tashkent as authorities step up inspections of construction sites and prepare new liability measures.