Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The agreement for the construction of a toll tunnel through the Takhtakaracha Pass is expected to be signed by the end of this year. This was announced by Minister of Transport Ilhom Makhkamov on 11 July during a Government Hour session, in response to a question from a member of parliament.

According to the minister, following the President’s visit to the Samarkand and Kashkadarya regions, the Ministry of Transport was tasked with implementing the project to build a seven-kilometer toll tunnel at the Takhtakaracha Pass. The project is to be carried out under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework, with the involvement of a private investor.

Makhkamov noted that three companies are currently working on the design phase. However, the project involves several technical challenges, particularly related to geodetic and geological surveys, which have required significant time.

He stated that private investors have completed the necessary studies and are now preparing the project’s feasibility study. The Ministry of Transport plans to select the winning bidder from among the three contenders in August, based on criteria aligned with Uzbekistan’s national interests.

The minister assured that the ministry will finalize the selection process, identify the private partner, and sign the agreement for the construction of the toll tunnel through Takhtakaracha by the end of this year.

The project is part of the national public-private partnership development program through 2030, approved in August 2024. According to the program, the tunnel’s estimated cost is $100 million. The responsible agencies were tasked with holding negotiations with potential strategic partners by the end of 2024, approving the project concept by August 2025, selecting a private partner by February 2026, and signing the implementation agreement by December 2026.