The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is expected to be completed two years ahead of schedule, еру Deputy Minister of Transport Jasurbek Choriev announced at the Tashkent International Investment Forum on Thursday.
The ministry official stated that the project began in 2024 with an original commissioning deadline set for 2030. However, thanks to advanced technological capabilities, the process could move forward much faster than anticipated.
"We are striving to wrap up construction two years early, by 2028. High demand for this rail line has accelerated our need for these new tracks," the deputy minister explained.
Jasurbek Choriev noted that Uzbekistan is actively investing in the project. The railway will carve through the mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan.
"That landscape is entirely new terrain for us," he added.
Once operational, the new rail line is projected to handle an initial freight volume of 15 million tons, scaling up to 20 million tons by 2040.
Earlier, on June 3, Minister of Transport Ilkhom Mahkamov updated parliament on the current phase of the railway's construction.
According to the minister, excavation work has already covered more than nine kilometers across the 25 tunnels currently under construction. Work on frame bridges has begun at eight sites, accounting for 24% of the 33 bridges planned for the project. Workers are currently digging trenches and laying foundations. The workforce includes more than 9,000 laborers backed by 5,883 pieces of specialized machinery.
The massive project will ultimately feature 19 stations—including two border checkpoints and one freight loading facility—alongside 29 tunnels and 50 bridges.
"The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Company LLC has now been established in Kyrgyzstan, with joint equity split among the three nations. This strategic project was originally slated for completion by the end of 2030. Once fully operational, it is expected to handle up to 15 million tons of cargo annually and shave an average of seven days off delivery times," the minister concluded.
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