In Kazakhstan, cases were identified where new tenders were announced for the repair of roads that had already been repaired and on which contractors' warranty obligations were still in force. This problem was discussed at a meeting on reforming the road sector. It was also reported there that 33 pre-trial investigations had been initiated and that the preliminary amount of damage was over 8 billion tenge.
WHAT THE INSPECTIONS REVEALED
The preliminary results of the inspections were presented by First Deputy Prosecutor General Zhandos Umiraliyev. According to him, violations were identified at various stages — from planning and construction to the operation of roads.
Among the recorded cases was the announcement of new tenders for the repair of sections that had already been repaired. At the same time, on some sites the contractors' warranty obligations were still in force.
HOW MANY INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED
To date, 33 pre-trial investigations have been launched into the facts of the identified violations. The preliminary amount of damage exceeds 8 billion tenge. The investigations are ongoing.
In addition, the cancellation of unjustified contracts and public procurement plans made it possible to prevent expenditure of 36 billion tenge.
WHAT MEASURES WERE DISCUSSED
The meeting considered the use of new road construction technologies, including Superpave and polymer-modified asphalt concrete. The control of material quality and the strengthening of laboratory testing, the development of roadside services, the modernisation of road checkpoints and the introduction of digital monitoring tools were also discussed.
Separate attention was paid to weight and dimension control. Proposals were considered on enshrining in law the automatic recording of violations, including cases of bypassing automated measurement stations, as well as on strengthening liability for overloading. Digital monitoring tools will be integrated into a single E-Kolik system.
The working group also developed proposals for improving the management of local roads, improving co-ordination between central and local executive bodies and increasing liability for the quality of road works.
WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER ORDERED
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed the Working Group to complete the discussion by the end of November and prepare a comprehensive package of proposals.
The document should bring together measures to eliminate the causes of premature deterioration of road surfaces and to increase contractors' liability for the quality of works. The proposed solutions should cover the entire cycle of construction and operation of roads of republican and local significance.
CONTEXT
In April 2026, in the Abai region, a dispute flared up over the results of a tender for road repairs worth about 2 billion tenge.
The competition was won by KazNIPI DORTRANS LLP. The winner's competitor claimed that the company may have provided inaccurate information about previously completed works. According to his version, this allowed it to meet the requirements and obtain the contract under public procurement.
