Why is it important
Paid roads are not just a mechanism for collecting payments, but a long-term infrastructure model: they can create a stable flow of investments and funds for road maintenance, reduce the burden on the budget, and contribute to the development of the transport network.
What happened
- The Chief Legal Consultant of the Committee for Roads, Hasan Umarov, stated that the implementation of the Tashkent—Samarkand and Tashkent—Andijan toll roads is planned for 5-6 years, therefore, they can be launched no earlier than 2030.
- Deputy Farhod Zayniev presented calculations: the introduction of toll roads can increase the country’s GDP by 2-3%.
- The new draft law “On Highways” (updated version) has already been adopted in the main reading and includes provisions on toll roads, investors’ rights, and operators’ obligations.
- The law provides for benefits for investors, standards for the movement of heavy vehicles, norms for roadside zones, and the mandatory consideration of public opinion and environmental impact.
- Paid road projects are already under discussion: for example, the Tashkent—Andijan highway was valued at $4.65 billion.
- Construction of these highways is planned to begin in 2025, although initially without payment.
What they say
- Hasan Umarov notes that the lack of a law regulating toll roads hinders the implementation of projects and the attraction of investors.
- The deputies emphasize that toll roads will allow for the transfer of budget financing to internal roads and reduce the creation of new highways.
- Expert circles emphasize that the integration of toll roads requires clear tariff mechanisms, a control system, and transparency, otherwise there may be social and logistical risks.
Context
In the current Law “On Highways” (2007), it is explicitly stated that relations on toll roads are subject to regulation by a separate law. Attempts to adopt such a separate law were made back in 2019, when it was not approved.
In the 2025 version of the new version of the law, the norms previously planned in a separate document have already been established. A number of publications claim that the construction of toll roads may begin in 2025, but the introduction of payment will be postponed until 2030.
