«KAZAKHSTAN-2050» STRATEGY IN ACTION: Kazakhstan has all the prerequisites to become a major logistic link connecting Europe and Asia – Kazakh PM Serik Akhmetov
Presenting the draft program at the Government meeting the head of the Ministry of Transport and Communications Askar Zhumagaliyev noted that in the framework of development of transport infrastructure it is planned by 2020 to renovate 30 thousand kilometers of roads, 8,202 kilometers of railway lines and to overhaul all the train stations.
Along with the repair and construction of roads the program includes the issues on roadsides service infrastructure and passenger traffic. Thus, by 2020 it is planned to build 260 roadside services, 31 of which to be established at the expense of the republican budget and the rest - at the expense of private investment. In the regions for the development of passenger transportation infrastructure there will be built 9 bus terminals, 45 bus stations, 155 passenger service points and 1,048 cab stands. It is planned by 2020 to provide all the settlements of Kazakhstan with bus service. For these purposes there will be developed 300 additional routes.
With regard to air transport, the Ministry of Transport and Communications by 2020 intends to open 75 new international flights. In addition, according to Zhumagaliyev within the development of the airport network in the country there will be reconstructed 11 of 18 existing airports. The program also provides for further enhancement of water transport infrastructure. In particular, today in Aktau a project to expand the port's capacity by building three dry cargo terminals is under implementation.
Following the meeting of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov noted the importance of the development of this program in the context of the problems mentioned by the President in "Kazakhstan-2050" Strategy, and focused on measures for construction, modernization and expansion of existing infrastructure. According to Akhmetov's words, infrastructure will attract both public and private investments amounted to KZT 5 trillion.
Head of Government instructed the Ministry of Transport and Communications and "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" JSC together with the concerned government agencies to continue implementing a comprehensive action plan for the project "Kazakhstan-New Silk Road"; in cooperation with local authorities to accelerate the creation of a company on airports' management, to ensure timely implementation of projects for the construction of railway lines "Beyneu-Zhezkazgan" and "Arkalyk-Shubarkol", concluded the Head of Government.