Discussions covered the development of Tashkent and Sergeli district, along with creating a safe environment in mahallasA videoconference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was held to discuss the socio-economic development of Tashkent, particularly in Sergeli district, and the creation of a safe environment in mahallas.
The Head of State noted that Sergeli district had undergone major changes in recent years. Until recently, Sergeli was regarded as an outlying district of the capital, and its residents had to travel to the city center to work, earn income, relax, and access medical services.
Today, however, the environment and people’s way of life in the district have changed fundamentally. Over the past ten years, 30,000 new flats have been built here, along with industrial, trade, and service facilities totaling 2 million square meters.
The number of entrepreneurs has increased from 2,500 to 6,200. Budget revenues in the district have risen from 382 billion UZS to 2.2 trillion UZS, a 5.5-fold increase. Five large recreational areas and parks have been opened for residents.
Following the transfer of 13 mahallas from Tashkent region, the territory of Sergeli district expanded by 1,800 hectares, bringing it to 5,600 hectares. A nine-kilometer road linking the district to other areas and the city center has been built, along with a new metro line comprising eight stations.
The number of school places has increased from 25,000 to 38,500, and preschool capacity has risen from 7,500 to 15,500. Fifty public and private clinics have been established.
At the same time, it was noted that many issues related to improving transportation, road, energy, water, and sewerage infrastructure remain unresolved.
The preliminary results of the population census clearly revealed the actual situation in Sergeli district. The district’s population had previously been reported at 181,000, but the census showed that around 236,000 people actually live there. The population of Sergeli is expected to exceed 300,000 in the coming years.
In this regard, it was emphasized that local leaders must already have a clear plan and program to increase housing construction, the number of kindergartens, schools, and clinics, and the number of jobs in proportion to population growth.
This year, 173 billion UZS have been allocated from the budget for the development of Sergeli district, while banks have provided 2.2 trillion UZS in resources. The district hokim and responsible officials were tasked with using these funds effectively and implementing plans to increase value added by two to three times.
This year, the capital’s districts are expected to implement investment projects totaling $9 billion. Over the past five months, $236 million in investment has been attracted to Sergeli district alone. By the end of the year, an additional $750 million is planned to be attracted through the launch of 60 projects.
It was noted that in the capital, the main obstacle to locating industrial projects remains the availability of land. Therefore, instructions were given to allocate sites for all 12 districts of the capital within the Yangi Avlod industrial zone and to introduce a system under which indicators for investment, industry, jobs, exports, and budget revenues will be attributed to the district that initiated the project.
The meeting also reviewed the experience of establishing trade and service facilities beneath elevated metro lines. Under this approach, the government auctions the right to use the land and prepares the project and infrastructure, while entrepreneurs carry out the subsequent work.
If such work is completed along an additional 8.5 kilometers of the metro line in Sergeli district, 137 trade and service facilities will be created, 1,000-1,500 jobs will be generated, and the district budget will receive an additional 20-25 billion UZS.
Overall, if such projects are implemented along the 23-kilometer section of the elevated metro line passing through Yashnabad, Sergeli, and Yangihayot districts, another 400 entrepreneurs will be able to launch businesses and create 3,000 jobs.
A new practice has been introduced in Sergeli district, auctioning land as a ready-made package that includes a construction permit, an architectural and planning assignment, and a project. The Head of State emphasized the need to extend this practice not only to land plots but also to state-owned properties and industrial zones offered for sale.
The 13 mahallas transferred to Sergeli district from Tashkent region six years ago contain 14,500 houses and more than 50,000 residents. However, the residents of these areas have yet to experience an urban environment fully.
A total of 629 reinforced-concrete poles have been installed, and cables have been laid to provide street lighting in these mahallas. However, the system has not yet been commissioned, drawing criticism. The responsible officials were instructed to resolve the issue within ten days. They were also tasked with fully connecting these mahallas to the sewerage network by the end of the year.
Due to the growing number of residents and businesses in Sergeli district, annual electricity demand has increased by 40 percent over the past five years. It was noted that in some mahallas, the power grid voltage is 1.5-2 times below the standard level.
A total of 107 billion UZS has been allocated for the commissioning of the Shaharoldi, Uzgarish and Qumariq substations. The responsible officials were instructed to put these facilities into operation within the established timeframe and ensure a reliable electricity supply for residents.
Overall, it was emphasized that no unresolved issues related to electricity, water, sewage, or roads should remain in 46 mahallas transferred to the capital’s Bektemir, Mirzo Ulugbek, Sergeli, Yashnabad, and Yangihayot districts.
Another issue affecting residents of Sergeli and Yangihayot districts is the unpleasant odor emanating from the wastewater treatment facility. The responsible officials were instructed to install modern filtration equipment at the wastewater reception facility and resolve the problem by September 1.
Starting next year, construction of a modern wastewater treatment facility with a capacity of 300,000 cubic meters will begin in Quyichirchiq district, in cooperation with partners from the United Arab Emirates. This will significantly reduce the burden on the Sergeli treatment facility.
This year, traffic safety arrangements along 23 kilometers of Sergeli district’s main roads are being revised to improve convenience for residents. A total of 455 smart traffic lights will be installed at intersections, 150 bus stops will be upgraded, and 10,000 parking spaces will be created.
Next year, a 5.5-kilometer BRT bus lane is planned for construction along Yangi Sergeli Street. It will connect to Shota Rustaveli Street. The need to accelerate construction of a new bridge on the Tashkent Ring Road, which will link the Sergeli, Bektemir, and Yangihayot districts with other parts of the capital, was noted.
Since the beginning of the year, Tashkent has welcomed nearly 3 million foreign tourists. Most of them want to walk comfortably to historical monuments, parks, markets, cafés, restaurants, and tourist mahallas.
This requires road signs, convenient routes, and digital maps. The responsible officials were instructed to introduce city route maps for tourists at bus stops, railway stations, the airport, and metro stations, which could be easily downloaded free of charge to mobile phones.
A shortage of public restrooms for visitors to the capital and for residents out for a walk was also noted. Instructions were given to develop a separate program within one month and, as early as this year, to auction land plots for the construction of 15-20 modern public restrooms in each district. Measures will also be taken to increase the number of litter bins significantly.
Some schools in Sergeli district are operating at 1.5-2 times their designed capacity. At the meeting, a project was proposed to construct a new type of school that would double the number of student places.
Under the new project, the gymnasium, canteen, and workshop will be located in the basement, while the upper floors will be used as classrooms. This year, instructions were given to apply this approach to one school and one kindergarten in each district of Tashkent to establish a “capital city model”.
Work is underway in the capital to create 12 artificial lakes to provide a cooler microclimate for residents and tourists. Three of them will be developed in Sergeli district, in Kushkurgan, Sultonobod, and Farogatli mahallas, covering a total area of 22 hectares.
The task was to transform these lakes into places that will help maintain a moderate climate in the capital and provide opportunities for walking and recreation. It was also noted that concreting has begun along a five-kilometer stretch of the Jun Canal that passes through Sergeli and Yangihayot districts. The hokims of Sergeli and Yangihayot districts were instructed to establish a walking area and a health trail along the canal by the end of the year.
The meeting also considered creating a capital city model to ensure a safe environment in mahallas. It was noted that assigning national-level officials to the capital’s districts is yielding results.
Over the past six months, the number of preventable crimes has decreased. No crimes were committed in 230 mahallas, and crime fell sharply in 332 mahallas. The number of mahallas with a serious crime situation declined from 60 to 23. These trends demonstrate the effectiveness of new approaches to ensuring public safety in the city.
Positive results have also been achieved in creating a safe environment in Sergeli district. Twenty-nine mahallas previously assessed as having a difficult crime situation moved into the “green” category. No crimes were committed in 17 mahallas. Sergeli recorded one of the best results among Tashkent’s districts in this area.
The Head of State instructed the responsible officials to extend the preventive work experience in Uzgarish mahalla, move the district’s remaining 46 mahallas into the “green” category, reduce the shadow economy, and introduce new approaches to working with young people.
Reports from hokims and responsible officials were also heard at the meeting.