Almaty's Big Almaty Ring Road Faces Criticism Over Funding, Lighting
Almaty residents have raised concerns about insufficient lighting on the Big Almaty Ring Road (BARR). Meanwhile, questions surround the funding and management of several infrastructure projects, including the BARR and border checkpoint constructions.
The BARR project has faced criticism for its exchange rate calculation. The initial estimate used a rate of 575 tenge per dollar, significantly higher than the government's rate of 540 tenge. This discrepancy has led to an extra 2 billion tenge in expenses.
The project's responsible official for the exchange rate translation remains unnamed, and no public announcement date is available. Furthermore, the 'Karasu' checkpoint on the border with Kyrgyzstan is seeking an additional 6.9 billion tenge, despite lacking an expert conclusion and land ownership documents.
Audits have revealed suspicious schemes in the funding of 'Passenger Transportation'. The company receives around 8 billion tenge in annual subsidies without approved leasing terms. Additionally, border crossing point projects have resulted in an overspend of 26 billion tenge on six out of eight objects, with contractors demanding more funds despite incomplete work.
A deputy has proposed immediate measures to address these issues. The proposals include halting funding for projects without approved documents and expert conclusions, strengthening officials' personal responsibility for overspending, and prioritizing the completion of ongoing projects. Residents' concerns about BARR lighting remain unaddressed, highlighting the need for budget prioritization towards the population's real needs.
