President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev was presented with an updated the municipal redevelopment plan for Tashkent, aimed at preserving cultural heritage, historic sites, buildings, and expanding green areas.

Uzbek president’s press service says the Tashkent municipal redevelopment plan, developed by ToshkentboshplanLITI in collaboration with companies from Singapore, the UK, Turkey, Germany, China, and the Netherlands, outlines the city’s growth until 2045.

As of now, Tashkent reportedly covers an area of over 43,800 hectares and has a population of more than 3 million.  The municipal redevelopment plan takes into account future growth projections, with President Mirziyoyev emphasizing the need to transform Tashkent into a major metropolis that can accommodate a population of at least 7.5 million people.

Zoning and development

The new municipal redevelopment plan divides Tashkent into three zones:

• Conservation zone: to preserve cultural heritage sites, historical buildings, and green areas.
• Reconstruction zone: allows for additional construction based on master plans.
• Renovation zone: focuses on new construction and the repair of outdated buildings and old housing.

Environmental and transportation challenges

Over the past decade, the average temperature in Tashkent has reportedly risen by 1°C, and air pollution levels often exceed acceptable limits.  The increasing number of cars has led to growing traffic congestion.

To address these issues, the municipal redevelopment plan includes several key initiatives:

• Green area expansion: the city plans to triple its green spaces, expanding them to 25,000 hectares. This will increase the green space per capita from the current 3 square meters to 6 square meters.
• Public transport and infrastructure: to ensure residents can reach schools, hospitals, and other essential services within 15 minutes, Tashkent will expand its public transportation network. The plan includes increasing the number of transport hubs and stops, building new roads, and introducing metro bus routes (metro bus is a bus, in an urban rapid transit system, that is somewhat like a tram, and runs in a segregated busway).

Additionally, the plan addresses the increasing strain on Tashkent’s electricity, water, and sewage systems due to the city's rapid growth, and measures are proposed to enhance these infrastructures.

Once approved, the municipal redevelopment plan will be publicly accessible via the Geographic Information System of the Urban Planning Cadaster and the Tashkent city administration’s website.