Samarkand unveils major expansion plan with new eco-city and 700 apartment buildings

During his visit to Samarkand region, the president signed a special decree to transform the center of Urgut district, introducing the “New Uzbekistan” concept and turning the area into one of the country’s most modern and attractive urban centers.

As part of this initiative, an additional 90 hectares adjacent to the “New Uzbekistan” residential area in the Quyi Kamangaron neighborhood will be allocated for the development of a new eco-city designed for 100,000 residents. Built according to contemporary urban planning standards, the eco-city will receive $50 million for infrastructure, including roads, water supply, sewage systems, electricity, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and facilities to support entrepreneurship.

Within the new city, 3 hectares will be dedicated to constructing a unified administrative center that will house 35 district-level organizations. The buildings vacated by these institutions will be offered to the private sector for business use.

A major redrawing of municipal boundaries was also announced. 17,500 hectares of territory from the districts of Oqdaryo, Payariq, Pastdargom, Toyloq, and Samarkand will be incorporated into Samarkand city. As a result, the city’s population is expected to increase from 604,000 to 882,000.

To meet the rising demand for housing in the rapidly growing city, authorities have earmarked three large sites for residential development. More than 700 modern apartment buildings will be constructed to accommodate:

• 180,000 residents in the Shirin area
• 100,000 residents in Temiryol orti
• 30,000 residents in the Qorasuv-2 area

As part of the relocation plan, 49 regional organizations currently based in Samarkand will move to the Shirin area next year. By the end of this year, a 577-metre bridge across the Qoradaryo will be commissioned, linking Shirin with the city center. In partnership with Spanish investors, the sewage systems in all three new residential zones will be modernized through public–private cooperation.

To ease heavy vehicle congestion in Samarkand, the government will also establish four logistics centers along the main highway passing through the Oqdaryo, Toyloq, and Samarkand districts.