Tashkent Launches Urban Renewal With Resident-First Approach

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Tashkent has launched a sweeping urban renovation program, placing community dialogue — not demolition — at the center of its opening phase.

The city's hokimiyat announced that the first stage of the initiative centers on direct engagement with residents, briefing them on project specifics, relocation procedures, proposed sites, compensation terms, and other critical details before any displacement occurs.

A working group led by Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov conducted inspections of newly established field headquarters in three pilot districts: the "Jarqo'rg'on" mahalla in Yashnabad, "A. Fitrat" in Mirobod, and "Xonobodtepa" in Sergeli.

These command centers — to be replicated across every designated renovation zone — are notably broad in their institutional composition. Each will bring together representatives from the hokimiyat, prosecutor's office, internal affairs, the National Guard, tax authorities, the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement, utility services, cadastre and justice agencies, construction bodies, energy and water supply networks, banks, and notary offices.

Their mandate goes beyond logistics. Headquarters staff are tasked with maintaining active dialogue with residents, explaining renovation mechanisms, collecting proposals and complaints, and accounting for the individual circumstances of each affected family.

Early resident meetings have already addressed the full spectrum of concerns: project timelines, relocation sequencing, documentation requirements, compensation packages, guarantees, and options for placement in newly built residential complexes.

Mayor Umurzakov stressed that the guiding principle throughout must be equivalence — ensuring displaced residents receive ready-to-occupy housing of comparable quality, ideally within their familiar urban environment. The approach, he said, is designed to accelerate resettlement while genuinely improving living standards rather than merely clearing land.

The rollout across Yashnabad, Mirobod, and Sergeli marks the operational beginning of what city authorities describe as a structural transformation of Tashkent's residential fabric.