Bishkek (TDI): The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has pledged $200,000 for a preliminary feasibility study of the proposed Bishkek–Kuntuu–Belogorka–Suusamyr highway, a strategic alternative route connecting Kyrgyzstan’s capital to its southern and western regions.
An agreement for technical assistance was formalized on December 5 between the EDB and Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers.
The new highway is envisioned to deliver far-reaching economic, social, and strategic benefits.
It aims to improve transport infrastructure, unlock access to mineral resources, and generate employment opportunities during construction and operation.
Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, highlighted the project’s alignment with the Eurasian Transport Framework, a major regional investment initiative.
“This highway will enhance connectivity between Kyrgyzstan’s economic hubs, boost the country’s transit potential, and attract regional interest in road transportation through Kyrgyzstan,” Podguzov said.
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Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Bekzhan Rysmendeev, emphasized the highway’s potential to alleviate strain on the heavily trafficked Bishkek–Osh route, which sees 5,000 to 18,000 vehicles daily.
“The new route will shorten the travel distance by 164 kilometers and provide vital access to mining regions. It will ease congestion, drive economic growth, and promote both tourism and trade,” Rysmendeev stated.
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The project supports the EDB’s mission to strengthen regional connectivity and foster economic development across Eurasia.
The bank, a multilateral institution with member states including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, views the initiative as a key component of its broader strategy to integrate and modernize infrastructure in the region.
