In recent years, Shymkent has made significant progress in developing its road and transport infrastructure. These achievements play an important role in improving safety and comfort for the city's residents, but they also require substantial financial investment in its maintenance.
This was the response provided by the Akimat of Shymkent to a query from the editorial board of FBRK regarding the reasons for the noticeable increase in spending on road infrastructure.
Earlier, our editorial board reported that the costs of maintaining road facilities in Shymkent, which was granted the status of a city of republican significance in 2018, continue to rise each year. While in 2016 the maintenance of road infrastructure cost 49 million tenge, this year the amount has reached 7.6 billion tenge.
The Akimat explains this trend as being due to an increase in the number of facilities, the expansion of the scope of routine works, and the inclusion in costs of electricity expenses needed to power road facilities.
From 2016 to 2024, the number of traffic light installations in the city increased from 155 to more than 310. Many of them are now equipped with modern technologies, including projection systems for road markings and traffic detectors, which, according to representatives of the Akimat, also requires additional funds.
Separately, the department explained the increase in the cost of certain contracts. Specifically, in both 2016 and 2017, the contract amount increased to 49 million tenge due to an increased need for services.
As of today, according to the Akimat, maintaining one traffic light installation costs the city budget 292,596 tenge per year. Thus, in 2024, the maintenance of all 310 traffic lights in the city will cost approximately 91 million tenge.
The department noted that the status of a city of republican significance obliges Shymkent to update traffic light equipment and integrate it into a unified traffic management system. According to the Akimat, this is a logical step for a city that is rapidly growing and developing.
The development of road infrastructure in Shymkent implies further modernisation and improvement of facilities, which is expected to lead to a further increase in costs.
For context, the editorial board of FBRK previously wrote about the sharp rise in costs for maintaining road infrastructure in the city of Kosshy.
Several years ago, this budget item cost the city 1.4 million tenge, but the amount has now reached 237 million tenge. You can read more about the explanation for this significant increase in costs via the link.