Master plan for Tashkent’s drainage system to be developed

A master plan for Tashkent’s drainage system will be developed, and construction work is set to begin next year. This was announced today, 16 December, at a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev dedicated to reviewing the work carried out in Tashkent and setting new targets for the coming year.

“Water must circulate in the ditches along all streets of the city,” the President said.

Under the program, plans include the construction of 150 kilometers of enclosed drainage systems, the repair of 197 kilometers of canals and collectors, and the creation of 63 kilometers of new canals aimed at forming a cooler urban microclimate.

Seventeen facilities for collecting rainwater will be built. The collected water will be used to irrigate trees and green areas.

All municipal services and emergency response agencies in the capital will switch to round-the-clock operation, with tasks set to prevent emergencies, eliminate them promptly, and strengthen public safety measures.

In addition, within three months, project designs will be prepared and work will begin on the construction of artificial lakes and reservoirs in four parts of the city. By 1 June 2026, each district is to commission three shaded pedestrian streets, each five kilometers long. A separate program will also be launched to establish one green park for every ten mahallas.

In 2026, 18.5 kilometers of canal embankments in the city will be reinforced. It was noted that plans for green areas and recreational zones along these sites should be developed in advance.

Furthermore, reinforcing a 16-kilometer stretch of the Chirchiq River passing through Bektemir, Sergeli, and Yangihayot districts will open up an additional 800 hectares of land. Of this area, 200 hectares will be allocated for a “green belt,” while 250 hectares will be developed with internal roads, promenades, pedestrian paths, and bicycle lanes.

It was also noted that Tashkent currently ranks 471st out of 1,000 cities worldwide in the Global Cities Index. Officials were instructed to work consistently to bring Tashkent into the top 300 cities with sustainable environmental performance.