On Saturday, the concept for one of the capital's largest urban development projects - Daryo Bo’yi Business City (Riverfront Business City)—was unveiled in the Bektemir district of Tashkent, the press service of the city mayor’s office announced.
The project proposes the comprehensive development of the territory stretching along a 24-kilometer section of the Chirchik River. The plan involves transforming both sides of the riverfront by establishing residential and business districts, creating public spaces, and expanding transport and utility infrastructure.
"The project aims to ensure that the capital's expansion directly serves the public by creating comfortable environments for living, recreation, work, walks, and family leisure, while also generating new jobs and boosting the service sector, tourism, retail, and entrepreneurship," the statement read.
"Daryo Bo’yi Business City will unlock the hidden potential of our riverfront areas, expand the urban footprint, seamlessly connect new residential and business hubs with existing infrastructure, and create fresh landmarks for both residents and visitors of the capital," the khokimiyat noted.
The unveiling event was attended by Timur Butunbaev, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration for Water Management System Reform; Shavkat Umurzakov, the mayor of Tashkent; district mayors; heads of relevant municipal departments and agencies; and representatives from design and contracting firms.
Following a review of the design proposals, recommendations were issued to refine the concept, with a strong focus on resident comfort, safety, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency, the khokimiyat reported.
By way of background, initial plans for the project were approved following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to the Sergeli and Zangiata districts on May 29, 2020. At that time, it was proposed to narrow a 16-kilometer stretch of the river running through the Bektemir and Sergeli districts to a width of 65–80 meters. The resulting reclaimed land—reported to be around 400 hectares—was earmarked for the project, and a dedicated project management directorate was established later that year. The master plan was presented to the president in May 2021, with expectations that implementation would take two years.
The newly unveiled concept expands the project’s scope to a 24-kilometer stretch, bringing the Yashnabad district into the development plan.
Reflecting on the area's challenges, the Business City directorate noted back in 2020: "Today, water levels in the Chirchik River are lower than in the past. While the riverbanks are extensive, human intervention has unfortunately left them in a deplorable state. The surrounding area has essentially been turned into a quarry overrun by machinery. Excavating natural resources like soil and gravel here is causing severe ecological damage."
Under current legislation, altering riverbeds, extracting minerals, or conducting any work that impacts water bodies is strictly prohibited without formal clearance from environmental protection, water management, geology, and mineral resource authorities.
Slides presented by the mayor’s office indicate that the mega-development will be divided into distinct zones, including River City, Lake City, Villa City, and Tech City. The project's total cost was initially estimated at over 1.4 trillion soums, but that figure is expected to rise due to the expanded 24-kilometer scope.
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