The face of Astana: Dynamics of change and progress
A recent evaluation of Astana by the World Council on City Data (WCCD), covering 19 key areas, has awarded Kazakhstan’s capital an international “Silver” level certification, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Considering this, a Kazinform News Agency correspondent set out to examine the city’s current development trends and understand what caught the attention of this prestigious organization.
The ISO 37120 standard, developed in 2014 and updated in 2018, is currently met by only 140 megacities worldwide, including Los Angeles, London, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Warsaw. Astana has now officially joined this group, earning the status of a “Sustainable City”. It is recognized as the first city in Central Asia to meet the standard “Sustainable development of cities and communities — indicators for city services and quality of life”.
This certification opens new opportunities for the capital, strengthening its international standing, boosting tourism, attracting investments, and fostering global partnerships.
Potential and society
This year, Astana’s revenue exceeded 1 trillion tenge for the first time, with the entrepreneurial sector showing significant growth. Small and medium businesses constitute 72.1% of the city’s economy — the highest rate in Kazakhstan. In other regions, this figure does not exceed 38.2%, highlighting the strong impact of investments in the sector.
The population, now exceeding 1.5 million, places increased demands on infrastructure and necessitates the construction of new social facilities. For instance, 3.6 million square meters of housing were commissioned in Astana over 11 months, with the year-end target set at 4 million square meters. This year, the construction of 142 residential buildings was completed, providing housing for 15,600 shared-equity participants. By 2029, 206 emergency housing buildings are planned to be vacated and redeveloped.
Significant attention is given to engineering infrastructure initiatives. The authorities have started constructing the “Telman” gas-fired thermal power plant, with work on the Southwest gas-fired thermal power plant beginning next year. These projects will ensure stable heat supply to the city until 2035.
“Over the past two years, Astana has undergone heating seasons with a heat surplus. In 2023, the launch of new gas-fired thermal power stations “Turan” and “Southeast” increased the thermal capacity of the first stage of CHPP-3 by 30%. This fully meets the city’s needs. For instance, at average temperatures of -10 to -15 degrees Celsius, the excess heat generation capacity is 1,200 Gcal/hour”, said Mayor Zhenis Kassymbek.
Schools and education
Astana has demonstrated record school construction rates in recent years. In this academic year, 18 new schools were commissioned, some built under the national “Comfortable School” project. These schools are being built throughout the city, including residential areas. In December, a new modern school opened in the Urker neighborhood, accommodating 4,000 students in two shifts. This will alleviate pressure on School No. 69, which operates in three shifts.
In 2024–2025, 24 new schools will be built under the “Comfortable School” project, providing education for about 90,000 students.
Infrastructure and transportation
A significant update for residents is the modernization of the public transportation system. This year, the number of new buses increased by 45%. Over the past two years, more than 700 buses have been added, with an additional 300 expected to be introduced next year.
This year, medium-scale renovations were carried out on 50 streets, spanning 60 km. The construction of a bridge connecting Al-Farabi Avenue to Tauelsizdik Avenue was completed, reducing traffic flow on Mangilik El Avenue and improving connectivity between the city’s right and left banks.
Urban planners emphasize the importance of monitoring traffic congestion and densely populated areas as the city grows.
“Astana and Almaty are pedestrian-friendly cities, a legacy of Soviet urban planning. However, as cities expand and densely populated areas move farther from the center, many residents rely on transportation, leading to traffic jams. Therefore, urban infrastructure planning must account for this,” said urbanist Akhmet Akhmetov.
The city administration has developed a comprehensive transport system strategy. One goal is to increase public transport usage to 71%, enhancing travel speeds during peak hours and reducing congestion.
The completion of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system will also alleviate transportation system pressure. The elevated section construction and reinforced concrete works at stations are finished. Work continues on a bridge over the Yessil River and 18 stations, with the project expected to conclude by late 2026. As part of the project, improvements are also planned for the area beneath the LRT overpass on Kabanbay Batyr Avenue and Kaldayakov Street.
Greening and beautification
Astana’s greening efforts were a critical aspect of its international certification. This year, 1 million trees, including European species adapted to the local climate, were planted in the city and its “green belt”. All developers are required to implement dendrological parks and maintain greenery around their projects for three years, or the city administration will not accept the projects.
“This year, extensive beautification was carried out. On the “Kazakh Eli” Square in front of the Independence Palace, 13 hectares were landscaped. A green boulevard opened on Zhurgenev Street, and the Akbulak River banks were improved. Next year, landscaping will extend from Abylai Khan Avenue to Amman Street,” added the mayor.
The future of Astana: a “Smart City”
Astana’s next goal is to achieve ISO 37122 certification as a “smart city”. Concrete plans have been developed in this direction, including digitalization.
The Smart City project, featuring an intelligent video surveillance system using AI for traffic violations and situational analysis, has been launched. The project will install 22,000 cameras and 1,200 speed measurement devices.
Currently, over 3,000 “Sergек” cameras have been installed in Astana, and the iKomek project is being implemented to significantly improve safety and rapid response capabilities.
Earlier, Kazinform News Agency reported on the significant national anniversaries, historical milestones, and international events that Kazakhstan will commemorate in 2025.
