The municipal enterprise "Bishkek City Transport" has announced a tender for the dismantling of trolleybus poles in the capital. The contract amount will be 12 million 46 thousand soms. This was reported by the founder of the initiative group #BishkekSmog, Bermet Borubaeva, in an interview for 24.kg.
Bermet noted that earlier the financial management of the Ministry of Finance of Kyrgyzstan stated that the transfer of 100 trolleybuses would not incur additional costs for the local budget. However, according to the activist, the actual costs for dismantling the infrastructure will be paid from the city budget.
In fact, the elimination of transport infrastructure is happening at the expense of the city budget, that is, with the money of the residents.
Bermet Borubaeva
"Why should residents not only endure the inconveniences created by the mayor's office but also pay for them?" — the activist questions.
She also emphasized that trolleybus poles serve not only for the contact network but also for street lighting. As an example, Bermet cited Akhunbaev Street, where after the road was widened, the poles were dismantled, and the area has been without lighting for two years.
Furthermore, it remains unclear what will happen to the dismantled structures.
Earlier, the Osh mayor's office announced plans to construct a third trolleybus line as part of a separate investment project with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In 2024, a financing package of up to 23 million euros was approved for the development of electric transport and modernization of infrastructure in the southern capital.
Residents of Bishkek previously filed a lawsuit to declare invalid the decision of the Bishkek City Council to transfer 100 trolleybuses to other regions of the country. The first court hearing took place on October 23, 2024. The residents are confident that this decision violates the law on loan agreement No. 1191-VI, concluded for the purchase of trolleybuses, and was made with multiple procedural violations.
The next hearing on the case is scheduled for March 16 in the Supreme Court.
