Construction of Kok Talaa–Pulgon section of the existing Osh–Isfana Road Corridor

"The rehabilitation of the Osh-Batken-Isfana road is very important for the development of the country. This project will provide transport independence of the republic and will open the way for local and regional markets, which will increase the welfare of the local population and the economic development of the region."

Prime Minister Jeenbekov, at the opening ceremony of the new road section

CONTEXT

Before this project, the main highway between Kok-Talaa and Pulgon, linking the south-western Batken Oblast to the north of the country, went through the territory of Uzbekistan. Poor road conditions also limited the access of the local population to social facilities such as medical services and schools. To alleviate the problem, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic made a plan to rehabilitate the highway between Osh and Isfana. The EU-funded construction of a new road section between Kok-Talaa and Pulgon is part of this plan.

OBJECTIVES

• The overall objective of the project is to support poverty alleviation through improvement and development of rural areas in the Kyrgyz Republic.
• The specific objective of the project is construction and rehabilitation of 14.7 km realignment from Kok-Talaa to Pulgon (km 108-125) on the existing Osh-Isfana Road Corridor.

RESULTS

• Improved access by the rural population to the basic social, educational and medical services and markets.
• Unimpeded and free transportation achieved by taking away the need to cross an international border while travelling between Kok-Talaa and Pulgon.
• Reduced travel time and cost for both national and international road users.
• Improvement of road safety along the existing road.
• Due to efficient construction large savings were possible, enabling the construction of a water pipeline and an anti-flooding dam.

TESTIMONY

Local impact

"We would like to express our deep gratitude for your assistance in the construction of the Kok Talaa – Pulgon section of the Osh – Isfana Road, as well as for the water pipeline that was extremely needed and for the anti-flooding dam in the flood-prone Akshay waterway. We would like to highlight that the road constructed is wide, modern and of high quality." 

(From a letter of thanks on behalf of the people of Pulgon, and the villages Chaltash and Tashkiya, handed over by Asanbay Pazylov, chairman of the organisation "Pulgon Tazasuu")