Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  A project to reconstruct the “Urganch — Khanka — Khazarasp — Tashsoka — Amudarya — A380 Highway” starts in Uzbekistan.

The project for the reconstruction of the 0-81 km section of the D213 highway “Urganch — Khanka — Khazarasp — Tashsoka — Amudarya — A380” is estimated at US$294 million, according to a presidential decree.

In May of this year, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Ministry of Economic Development and Finance signed an agreement to provide a loan for improving the transport infrastructure in the Khorezm region. A loan of US$238 million was granted for 18 years, with a four-year grace period.

According to the technical and economic justification, the total cost of the project will be US$294.1 million, of which US$56.1 million will be allocated from the state budget.

The project is planned to be implemented over five years (2024-2029), including a two-year warranty period.

Preliminary studies conducted by the Ministry of Economic Development and Finance, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Transport, and the Committee for Road Infrastructure have identified the potential to optimize expenses by US$32.7 million.

The President has approved the government’s proposal to allocate the saved funds to the reconstruction of the D217 highway “Urganch — Gurlen — Mangit — Turkmenistan Border” (5-75 km) in the Khorezm region.

By the end of the year, negotiations with the EBRD will be held to redirect the saved funds for other needs.

In addition to improving transport accessibility, the project also includes the planting of 30,000 decorative trees and shrubs along the highways.

The EBRD emphasizes the strategic importance of the 4R156 highway, which connects Urganch to the A380 highway leading to Kazakhstan. After the reconstruction, the current single-lane road of category II will be transformed into a two-lane road of category I.