Kyrgyzstan reconsiders relocating its capital to address Bishkek's pollution and overcrowding, with the proposed city of Asman positioned as a futuristic alternative.
In Kyrgyzstan, discussions about relocating the capital have resurfaced. Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) deputy Bakytbek Maripov has proposed moving Kyrgyzstan’s capital away from Bishkek, presenting the idea during a parliamentary session.
It is noted that this is the only way to solve the problems of traffic jams and air pollution.
He recalled the city of Asman, which attracted $10 billion in investment for its construction. At the beginning of his term, in 2021, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov announced the construction of "the city of the future, Asman", in the Issyk-Kul region. Two years later, in June 2023, Japarov laid the foundation for the construction of Asman by laying a capsule. The authorities plan to complete this megaproject in 7-10 years, and 3143 hectars of land have already been allocated for it.
The issue of relocating the capital in Kyrgyzstan has been raised several times before. For instance, the new capital was suggested to be the border city of Osh, which had repeatedly become the focus of interstate conflict and was located 700 kilometers away from Bishkek on the border with Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, Bishkek suffers from smog, as the current capital is surrounded by the 375-kilometer mountain range of the Tien Shan - the Kyrgyz Alatau. In November 2024, Bishkek ranked among the top 10 most polluted cities in the world. Key sources of pollution include emissions from motor vehicles, the use of low-quality fuels for heating private homes, and unfavorable meteorological conditions that trap pollutants.
Currently, more than 2-3 million people actually live in Bishkek and the Chui region. This is a very large concentration for a country with a population of 7 million people. Thus, almost 40% of the country's population lives in the Chui region.
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