Akim (mayor) of Astana Zhenis Kasymbek said the long-disputed subway system LRT is expected to be finished within two years, QazMonitor reports citing Khabar 24.
"The initial sums were provided by the government last year. This year there will be active construction of the object [LRT],” said Kasymbek.
“Now there are works on mobilization as well as advance payments on equipment and future trains, which will be part of the LRT. The project is planned to come to fruition in 2023-2024 and be launched by the end of next year.”
In December, Kasymbek had said the fate of the construction depended on financing in response to a journalist’s question. At the time he estimated the subway system would be completed in the next two to three years.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a meeting a few days ago said that there is no choice but to complete the construction as there are no alternatives.
"I have already said that the LRT project was mostly flawed. But now we have no other choice. We have to implement this project. If we stop building the LRT, the losses will be even greater.”