President Mirziyoyev Reviews Strategic Reforms and Expansion Plans in Uzbekistan’s Railway Sector
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a presentation on Monday focusing on key measures to further develop the country’s railway industry, as part of an ongoing series of structural reforms aimed at modernizing and optimizing the sector.
The presentation followed the implementation of the Presidential Resolution dated October 10, 2023, which set the groundwork for comprehensive reforms within the Uzbekistan Railways company. As a result of these reforms, significant progress has been achieved: non-core assets and land plots have been divested, redundant functions eliminated, and the operational structure streamlined. The company, which had previously incurred financial losses, concluded last year with a net profit of 47 billion Uzbek soums. Additionally, the establishment of the freight company Temiryoʻlkargo led to a twofold increase in freight car utilization efficiency.
Despite these achievements, President Mirziyoyev emphasized that the sector’s full potential has yet to be realized. During the presentation, further priorities were outlined, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development and revenue generation.
One of the key opportunities highlighted was the underutilization of transit cargo potential. With plans to increase transit freight volumes by 40 percent in the coming years, the sector could potentially double its revenue. Notably, freight trains have been launched on the China–Türkiye route for the first time, and the import of new train units has led to a steady increase in trip frequencies.
In light of this momentum, the President stressed the importance of a phased expansion of the railway infrastructure’s throughput capacity. This issue is particularly pressing in the Tashkent suburban area, where 70 percent of external cargo traffic passes through the Chuqursoy station, often resulting in multi-day delays, long queues, and added operational costs.
To address these challenges, proposals were made to relocate key freight stations outside the capital and construct new hubs in Yangiyul district and near New Tashkent. In addition, the Ozodlik–Gulistan bypass railway line is set to be constructed, enabling a significant increase in freight volume without congesting the capital’s infrastructure.
Among the notable infrastructure projects is the construction of the Samarkand–Urgut railway line. With 7 kilometers of track already completed, the line will span a total of 54 kilometers, featuring two passenger stations and two freight terminals within the Urgut Economic Zone.
President Mirziyoyev also directed special attention to improving access to railway stations and enhancing passenger services. Emphasis was placed on the importance of creating comfortable conditions for travelers, expanding parking facilities, and developing tourism-friendly infrastructure at station areas.
The presentation concluded with reports from relevant officials regarding the procurement of new electric train units and measures to elevate the overall quality of railway services across the country.
The discussed initiatives are part of Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to position itself as a key logistics and transport hub in the region, with a modern, efficient, and customer-oriented railway system.
