Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
October 30, 2025 Economic development
Kyrgyzstan's capital has tripled in size in recent years and acquired new transportation options. Bike paths have been built and the facades of schools and buildings have been greened. On World Cities Day, celebrated on October 31, Bishkek's First Deputy Mayor, Mirlanbek Baigonchokov, spoke with Lyudmila Blagonravova about how the capital is transforming into a more environmentally friendly and convenient metropolis.
MB: In recent years, Bishkek has made significant progress in implementing large-scale changes, which were, of course, aimed at developing the city and improving people's quality of life.
I'd like to highlight the key changes that affected the following areas. Just last year, we underwent an administrative-territorial reform, as part of which the city of Bishkek more than tripled in size. While Bishkek's territory previously covered approximately 13,000 hectares, it has now grown to almost 41,000.
This places certain obligations on the municipality. Over the past few years, we have embarked on a large-scale construction and reconstruction of social facilities, including schools, kindergartens, medical centers, various sports facilities, and public spaces in general. Last year alone, we built approximately 10 kindergartens and four educational facilities.
We have completed the reconstruction of our central square, the Alga complex, and other public facilities. At the same time, a master plan for Bishkek through 2050 is being developed. We have begun upgrading public transportation, purchasing electric buses and natural gas buses.
We're implementing various innovative parking projects. We're the first in the city to install rotary parking systems. These are just the first steps, of course, and I think we'll continue to do so.
Environmental and greening issues are also pressing, and we've launched the "Thousands of Green Walls" project and other large-scale environmental initiatives. We've begun improving our transportation and waste management systems. We're actively planting trees, improving lawns and parks, cleaning rivers, and upgrading street lighting.
LB: Can you give examples of any projects or programs that have already been implemented and that have led to specific results?
MB: The city of Bishkek annually adopts a socio-economic development program, which determines the directions and priorities of the city's development and budget policy. Thanks to a systematic approach, we implement approximately 80 percent of the planned activities.
Last year, we modernized and rehabilitated central streets, water supply, and sewerage systems. We are improving service quality and introducing modern technologies into public utilities.
© Unsplash/M. Dudin
Large-scale projects to modernize the city are being carried out in Bishkek.
We're implementing a variety of innovative digital methods. For example, we've developed and implemented the "My City" app, where every citizen can contact the authorities with problems, and we respond to requests promptly. We've also integrated a public transit tracking feature into the app, allowing citizens to see the route passing through and when public transit will arrive while waiting at a stop.
We've also introduced a visually impaired transport mode with voice notifications so our citizens can know where they've arrived. We're also introducing intercity transport traffic indicators. We've also implemented a workflow tracking system that integrates with the "My City" app, which tracks citizen complaints about municipal services' performance.
In the post-pandemic period, we identified five informal settlements, home to approximately 75,000 people, and implemented a pilot project to connect them to water and sewerage systems and build roads. This project was supported by the UN and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
LB: Tell us about the project that is currently being implemented with the support of UN agencies and which is aimed at reducing poverty.
MB: With UN support, we began implementing this project, and the main focus was on improving social protection, simplifying access to assistance, and introducing a social contract model to engage families in business.
The relationship between poverty, food security, and nutrition was analyzed. The primary goal was to reduce dependence on social assistance and increase the resilience of vulnerable groups.
LB: You've already mentioned environmental issues. Air pollution is a significant problem in Bishkek. Tell us about the programs being implemented in this area.
MB: Bishkek, as a development center, the center of the republic, and a metropolis, faces environmental challenges. And here I would like to note that the main sources of air pollution are motor vehicles.
© UNDP/D. Usmanov
Some houses in Kyrgyzstan are heated with coal.
We also have a combined heat and power plant, which was built back in the Soviet Union. It's operational, providing us with heat and light, but it's also a source of pollution. Of course, there are also boiler houses that serve various neighborhoods, industrial enterprises, private farms, and private homes that use coal to heat their homes. All of this impacts the city's ecology. Consequently, the municipality has begun implementing comprehensive measures to improve the environmental situation.
One such measure is the "Thousand Green Walls" project, which involves vertical greening of building facades. We have begun a pilot project to green several schools and residential buildings in one of the city's neighborhoods. We hope the project will bear fruit, and based on this pilot experience, we will continue to expand.
We also insulate the facades of municipal buildings and social facilities. We also advise private households that their homes need to be insulated first and foremost to prevent heat loss, thereby achieving energy efficiency.
We install heat pumps in public facilities, which in turn reduce energy consumption and, consequently, emissions. And since motor vehicles are a major cause of pollution, over the past two years, with the support of the government, our development partners, and the Asian Development Bank, we have begun a large-scale procurement of environmentally friendly vehicles, including electric buses.
© UNDP/D. Usmanov
Motor transport is one of the main sources of pollution.
We're implementing the appropriate infrastructure in the city, creating opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists. We're purchasing natural gas-powered buses. And one more thing: we've begun construction of a waste processing plant that will generate electricity.
I'd like to point out that for years, waste at the sanitary landfill smoldered rather than burned, releasing waste. This also had an impact on the environment. Just last year, we stopped this smoldering by implementing various innovative methods, and we no longer have any smoke. Furthermore, by the end of the year, we hope to commission a waste incineration plant, which will also contribute to improving the city's environment.
LB: You mentioned bicycles; many cities around the world are now building bike paths. How is the situation in Bishkek?
MB: We are increasing the space so that city residents can get somewhere on foot, can use bicycles, and are building bike paths in the city.
Of course, this is just the beginning; we've begun paying more attention to this in the last year or two. I hope this process will accelerate in the future, and we'll increase the length of bike lanes to encourage more residents to use bicycles. As the number of cars in the city increases and congestion increases, we'll encourage this mode of transportation by expanding the number of bike lanes.
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