Construction of what the Tajik president's official website boasts will be “Central Asia's largest theater” is expected to be completed by autumn of 2021.

“Construction of the theater, which is on the list of especially significant facilities, is in full swing and it will be completed by autumn of 2021,” Tajik Minister of Culture, Shamsiddin Orumbekov, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

Like the previous years, the construction of the theater will be exempted from paying the value added tax (VAT) and profit tax in 2020 as well, the minister noted.  

The Directorate for Construction of Government Facilities at President’s Executive Office controls the construction works.  About 680 million somoni have reportedly been allocated for construction of the new theater.  

President Emomali Rahmon laid the theater’s cornerstone on March 17, 2015.  The five-story building will abut the National Museum in the flagpole area.

The building will include three large concert halls.  The largest is reportedly projected to have a seating capacity of 2,400 and possess necessary world-class features.  The two other halls will have seating capacities of 1,200 and 1000 respectively. 

A total space of the theater will be 7,480 square meters.  The theater that will have exhibit and art rooms is expected to host various cultural events.

Once completed, it will expand a list of ambitious projects implemented in Dushanbe.  Earlier projects include what was briefly the world’s tallest flagpole, completed in 2011.  Tajikistan also claims to have Central Asia’s largest library (completed in 2012), biggest museum (2013) and largest teahouse (2014).