Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 29 April, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev became familiar with a presentation of plans for the development of a transport system in Samarkand.

In the Development Strategy of Uzbekistan, the goal is set to turn Samarkand into a millionaire city. To this end, this year the area of the city will be expanded to 28 thousand hectares. In the next five years, new houses designed to accommodate 300 thousand people will be built in the Karasu neighborhood in Shirin mahalla and on the territory behind the railway station. It is also expected that the number of tourists will reach 5 million people.

All this requires a revision of the transport system, road network and infrastructure of the city.

Currently, 925 thousand people move daily along the roads of Samarkand, taking into account the permanent resident population and visitors from other districts. Most of them – 592 thousand – drive their cars. More than 330 thousand people use public transport.

This imbalance is explained by the lack of convenient and stable public transport. Carriers do not serve the population all day, but at the most profitable time of the day. Over the past two years, 38 routes have been closed due to unprofitability, and 300 buses are needed.

In this regard, the Head of the state earlier gave instructions on the development of public transport in Samarkand. Proposals developed with the participation of foreign experts were considered at the presentation.

They provide for the division of the public transport system into the trunk, supply, and internal lines. In addition to the existing routes, 40 new ones will be opened, including 5 express routes that will connect the airport, the railway station, and the historical center of the city. It is planned to put large-capacity buses on the line with the allocation of a separate lane for them on the central streets. The number of stops will be increased. A Transport Department will be established at the City Hokimiyat. From July 1, urban public transport will be subsidized from the budget of Samarkand region.

The President focused on the introduction of advanced technologies and digitalization of traffic management.

“Life has accelerated. People’s mobility has increased. But public transport remains the same. The problem of traffic jams cannot be solved by expanding roads. Public transport should be given priority. Look at the global experience. It is necessary to increase the capacity of streets through digitalization, and online traffic management. In the future, we will do this in all our cities. Samarkand should serve as a model in this”, the President said.

An instruction was given to finalize the project and to organize routes correctly. It was noted that the project should be implemented in stages, starting with streets poorly provided with public transport.

“People should feel convenience. If public transport is affordable, qualitative and fast, passengers will prefer it. And for this, it is necessary to properly organize infrastructure and routes”, the Head of the state said.

It was proposed to launch an electric train connecting Pastdargom and Bulungur districts with Samarkand.

Information was also provided on plans to improve the road transport infrastructure. 160 kilometers of roads will be repaired in Samarkand this year, and construction of 5 overpasses will begin. 102 new stops will be organized, existing ones will be put in order.

Along with the construction and repair of roads, the Head of the state noted the need for their high-quality maintenance.

“We have built many roads, but not enough attention is paid to their operation. There is no road balance, no service life analysis. Money is spent inappropriately. Sometimes a road is built where it already exists. Therefore, the Traffic Safety Service should tell where to build and where to repair the road. Because traffic congestion and safety depend on it”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

As is known, by the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of April 4, 2022 “On measures to ensure reliable human safety and a sharp reduction in deaths on highways”, special operational and installation units of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and regional hokimiyats were transferred to the traffic safety departments of territorial internal affairs bodies.

During the presentation, the work carried out by a special operational and installation unit of Samarkand region was considered. It was noted that a digital traffic control system will be implemented at 49 intersections of Samarkand. Modern traffic lights will be installed at 140 intersections. Modern road signs will be installed on central streets. As a result, waiting time at traffic lights will be reduced by 31 percent, driving time – by 36 percent, driving speed will increase by 17 percent.

The importance was noted for training and advanced training of employees of road construction organizations and TSS employees, recruitment on a competitive basis.