New Tashkent: Inside Uzbekistan’s 30 Billion Dollar Mega City Rising Beside Its Capital

Uzbekistan is attempting something few countries have ever tried. It plans to build an entirely new city for millions, not in a remote desert or on untouched land far from its population centers, but right next to its existing capital. This vast urban project is called New Tashkent, and it stands at the center of the country’s hopes for economic renewal, modern governance, and global relevance. The city promises growth, opportunity, and a fresh start for a nation that has waited decades for a chance to reposition itself. When I first explored the early plans and satellite images, the scale felt surreal, almost like watching a new chapter of the country unfold in real time.

A Region With a Long Memory and a New Ambition

Uzbekistan sits at the heart of Central Asia, surrounded by countries that shape its politics and economy. Russia lies to the north, China to the east, and economic corridors toward the Middle East stretch across its southern and western borders. With nearly 37 million people, Uzbekistan holds the region’s largest population and its most promising demographic strength. The country once thrived as a center of global trade along the Silk Road. Cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara acted as cultural and commercial bridges between continents.

The 20th century reshaped everything. Soviet-era planning introduced rigid urban layouts, centralized economic controls, and heavy industrial zones that often ignored environmental realities. After independence in 1991, the country entered a long period of isolation. Trade remained limited, global investment dropped, and the economy grew slower than its regional peers. Uzbekistan held onto its heritage, but it struggled to move forward.

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A Political Transformation That Set a New Course

Change accelerated after 2016. A new administration pushed economic reforms that opened the national currency, removed trade restrictions, and encouraged direct foreign investment. Global companies took notice. The Asian Development Bank and World Bank both reported sharp increases in economic activity, and annual foreign investment surpassed 4 billion dollars within a few years. These reforms reshaped how the world viewed Uzbekistan.

Economists often describe this shift as one of the most significant economic openings in the region since Kazakhstan’s early 2000s boom. But policy alone could not transform public trust. Leaders needed a visible symbol of change—something large enough to represent a more confident and outward-looking nation.

Why Tashkent Reached Its Limit

That search for a physical symbol led planners back to the existing capital. Tashkent had grown rapidly since the 1990s. Its population density nearly doubled, driven by young families, internal migration, and rising urban demand. Housing shortages intensified. Roads built for a smaller population now sit near capacity. Access to clinics, schools, and public transport struggles to match the city’s pace of expansion. International indexes placed Tashkent near the bottom of global livability rankings by 2023, citing congestion, pollution, and shrinking green areas.

Upgrading the old capital would take decades. Even with billions in spending, the city would continue to strain under its current footprint. Faced with this timeline, planners turned to an idea used in places like Egypt, Indonesia, and South Korea—build a new city beside the existing one and let both evolve together.

The Birth of New Tashkent

New Tashkent is not a suburb or a simple extension. It is designed as a parallel capital-scale city. Its planners want it to serve government institutions, financial services, technology sectors, education hubs, and high-density residential districts. Senior officials oversee the project directly, allowing approvals and land allocation to move at a pace rarely seen in large-scale urban development.

This approach signals confidence but also urgency. Uzbekistan’s population is young and growing quickly. The country needs to create millions of new jobs in the coming decade, and the leadership views New Tashkent as a foundation for that future.

A City Built at the Edge of the Capital

New Tashkent sits about 20 kilometers east of the current city. Its planned area is about 25,000 hectares, roughly one-third the size of Singapore. The existing capital holds around 3 million residents. New Tashkent could host another 2.5 million. Together, the combined metropolitan region may exceed 7 million residents within the next 20 years, placing it among the largest urban centers in Central Asia.

Regional analysts note that very few countries attempt to build a connected dual-capital structure at this scale. If executed well, it could change Uzbekistan’s economic position in the region.

Urban Design Built Around Daily Life

At the core of the plan sits the 15-minute city concept. Instead of long commutes and isolated neighborhoods, New Tashkent organizes its districts into compact clusters known as super mahalas. Each district provides schools, clinics, parks, government services, and small commercial centers within walking distance. Streets prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, while major roads remain at the edges.

This approach aims to cut traffic congestion, improve public health, and create a calmer daily rhythm. If the plan works, residents would navigate their lives within their neighborhoods rather than spending hours crossing a mega city.

A Street Network Designed for Millions

Instead of strict Soviet-style grids or European ring roads, planners designed a mixed layout. A consistent grid keeps navigation simple. Diagonal routes cut through major areas to reduce pressure on main roads and shorten travel paths. This hybrid structure takes cues from cities such as Barcelona and Washington DC. Urban mobility researchers praise this approach for reducing bottlenecks as populations rise.

The Digital Core Beneath the City

One of the most advanced features is the citywide digital twin. Every major asset—roads, utilities, public buildings, water networks, and power systems—receives a real-time virtual model. This system allows engineers to track stress, predict maintenance needs, and adjust infrastructure before problems spread. Singapore and Helsinki use similar systems to manage flooding, traffic, and energy distribution. For Uzbekistan, adopting this model represents a major leap in modern urban management.

Green Space, Water Networks, and Renewable Energy

Nearly one quarter of New Tashkent’s land is reserved for parks and natural corridors. These areas are connected by a canal network designed to cool the city, offer recreation, and provide controlled water flow during seasonal changes.

Energy planning follows a similar integrated strategy. Solar plants are projected to generate around 400 megawatts. Hydropower facilities add another 1,200 megawatts. Agricultural byproducts from the cotton sector feed biomass plants that supply additional heating and cooling. Government reports state that the long-term goal is full reliance on renewable energy for the new city, supported by smart-grid systems.

Architecture Meant to Signal a New Era

Landmark projects give New Tashkent a distinct identity. The planned Twin City Towers rise to an estimated height of 575 meters, placing them among the world’s tallest skyscrapers. Zaha Hadid Architects is developing the Alisher Navoi Center, which blends contemporary design with local craftsmanship and passive cooling techniques inspired by the region’s Silk Road architecture. A major resort and water park add leisure spaces for residents and future visitors.

Construction on an Unprecedented Scale

Investment goals exceed 120 billion dollars from private and state sources. District One spans 6,000 hectares and moved into active development in 2024. Land sales are underway. More than 20 renewable energy projects are scheduled to deliver over 2 gigawatts of power by 2028. Metro extensions are already advancing to link New Tashkent with the existing capital, ensuring mobility before the first residential districts reach completion.

A Demographic Clock That Never Stops

Uzbekistan adds roughly 250,000 working-age individuals every year. Many graduates struggle to match their skills with available jobs. Without new economic engines, the next decade could bring rising unemployment and social pressure. New Tashkent is presented as the solution: thousands of construction jobs now, and long-term work in energy, transport, education, public administration, and technology. For young citizens, this new city is meant to become a place where opportunity grows as fast as the population.

The Challenge That Could Decide Everything

Water remains the greatest constraint. Uzbekistan ranks among the world’s most water-stressed countries. Its agriculture depends on river systems shared with neighboring nations. According to UNDP assessments, shortages could reach 15 billion cubic meters by 2030. Building a canal-based city under those conditions requires careful management. If water systems fail, the city’s growth could slow or stall, placing the entire vision under pressure.

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A Vision Still in Motion

New Tashkent stands as one of the most ambitious urban plans of the century. It can elevate Uzbekistan’s position on the global stage, support long-term economic growth, and offer a fresh model for fast-growing nations. It may also reveal how difficult it is to build a megacity from scratch beside an existing capital. The outcome will depend on planning discipline, economic stability, and the country’s ability to secure vital resources such as water.

For now, the city continues to rise, district by district, turning a national aspiration into a visible and tangible reality.