The Satybaldy family-controlled KazGerStroy SP LLP, declared bankrupt this year, has been unable to complete Bukhar Zhyrau Street in the capital for the third year running. Meanwhile, the Astana City Transport Department claims that 74% of the work has been completed in accordance with the signed contract.
We previously reported that residents of capital housing complexes are complaining about mud and potholes on the roads in their courtyards near Al-Farabi and Uly Dala avenues. For several years, they have been asking for the streets to be put in order, but they are still forced to endure dust, mud and discomfort under their windows.
For example, a garbage truck got stuck in one of the holes on Kaisenov Street. Earlier, special equipment and building materials appeared on the roads, but the roadworks themselves are not being carried out properly. Residents are concerned that there are two schools nearby, and their children have to walk to school over rough terrain.
A banner has been erected on the site stating that the construction should be carried out by the company KazGerStroy SP LLP. Construction was supposed to start back in 2021 and be completed within 11 months. Judging by the photo, the banner has been up for a long time, but the construction materials look fresh.
We managed to find out that in February 2021, the Astana City Transport Department entered into a contract for the construction of Bukhar Zhyrau Street with KazGerStroy SP LLP for the amount of 2.5 billion tenge with a delivery date under the contract of 31 December 2022.
In December 2022, an additional agreement was signed, according to which the deadlines were pushed back to 31 December 2023, and in September 2023, the completion dates were pushed back by another year – to 31 December 2024.
However, KazGerStroy SP LLP has been declared bankrupt since April 2023. In addition, the company has a tax debt of 5.8 billion tenge, a debt under enforcement proceedings of over 263 million tenge and an encumbrance on the founder's share.
The founding company Bereke Astana Group LLP also has a tax debt of 3.2 million tenge, a debt under enforcement proceedings of 632 million tenge, a ban on registration actions and an encumbrance.
It is worth noting that one of the founders of Bereke Astana Group LLP is the son of Kairat and Gulmira Satybaldy - Bauyrzhan Nursultan. The second founder is Aidar Larazov.
We decided to ask the Astana City Transport Department who will now be carrying out the construction of Bukhar Zhyrau Avenue and at whose expense. As it turned out, the contractor is still KazGerStroy SP LLP.
Furthermore, as noted by the Department, the contracts and all additional agreements are entered into with the company on a legal basis. We were also told that a large part of the construction work has already been completed.
“The contract for public procurement of works in the construction sector No. 626 dated 2 February 2021 was concluded between the Department and KazGerStroy Joint Venture LLP on the basis of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan ‘On Public Procurement’ and the results of the public procurement through an Open Tender dated 26 January 2021 No. 5163929-OT1.
Also, each additional agreement is extended on the basis of sub-clause 7 of clause 2 of Article 45 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan ‘On Public Procurement’ dated 4 December 2015. To date, 74% of the work volume has been completed; the work is being carried out in accordance with the terms of the signed contract”, stated in the official response from the Astana City Transport Department.
It makes you wonder, why are local residents still tripping over potholes and failing to notice that a significant portion of the roadworks has already been done?