Kazakh Government approves Astana agglomeration development plan

The Kazakh Government debated today the Astana agglomeration development package plan, Kazinform News Agency reports.

The Astana agglomeration includes Astana (the agglomeration core) and over 40 rural settlements in three districts of Akmola region.

The Astana agglomeration development package plan consists of 329 measures worth 1.13 trillion tenge aimed at the town-planning development, modernization of social and engineering-transport infostructure, providing ecological sustainability and security, and prevention of emergencies.

The integrated town-planning policy will be developed as part of the territorial development of the agglomeration to synchronize the Kazakh capital and Akmola region development plans. Ecotowns covering over 940 hectares will be built. The construction of six logistics centers and a battery locomotive service center will improve the transport and logistics infrastructure of the agglomeration. Over 400 km of roads will be repaired, 300 km and four bridges will be built. 70 km of sewage networks, 500 km of water supply and disposal networks, 800 km of power lines, and three boiler houses will be constructed and reconstructed.

25 food production facilities and 12 manufactured goods facilities will be commissioned to boost the food belt and attract investments. An industrial zone stretching over 300 hectares will appear in Arshaly district.

For the past 10 years, the population of Astana has grown by 46%. It is projected to grow to 2.3 million by 2035.

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said the sharp increase in population size on the outskirts of Astana and daily push-pull migration to and from Astana remain the major problems of the agglomeration. He said the proposed package plan will become the key policy document in this area.