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Irina Grishechkina, Deputy Director of the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Prospective Urban Development and one of the authors of the strategic document, highlighted the key issues facing Bishkek.
The expert noted that Bishkek is experiencing a mismatch between population growth, spontaneous construction, and a lack of social infrastructure.
Individual construction predominates in the housing stock, which is related to the expansion of urban territory due to new districts, nearly doubling the area of the capital, as well as the presence of large agricultural land within the city.
The working population of the capital amounts to 886,000 people, of whom about 600,000 are actively employed. At the same time, there is a reserve of about 70,000 people capable of working.
According to Grishechkina, many of these individuals cannot find jobs, and some stay home with children due to a lack of social infrastructure.
The most critical issue is the lag in the construction of social facilities compared to the pace of residential construction. High-rise buildings are being erected without considering the needs for educational and medical institutions.
According to experts, the availability of kindergartens in Bishkek is only 30 percent, while schools cover 50 percent. In some educational institutions, classes are held in three, and sometimes four, five, or even six shifts.
Moreover, there is a severe shortage of clinics, hospitals, and ambulance stations. The developers of the General Plan propose to increase the number of social facilities in the city.
It was also noted that the historical appearance of Bishkek is disappearing. In recent years, the city has lost 22 historical monuments, three art objects, and 27 architectural monuments, which have been stripped of their status for new construction.
Irina Grishechkina calls for the prevention of the destruction of Bishkek's historical heritage.
In her opinion, there will be no similar historical sites and ensembles related to green areas left in the center of the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. If this is lost, it will be impossible to restore the lost elements.
