Chinese Government provides RMB 278.73 million grant for Phase 2 of Bishkek Municipal Road Network Reconstruction Project (Linked to Record ID#52924)

Project narrative

In December 2017, the Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan signed letters of exchange with Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Economy regarding Phase 2 of the Bishkek Municipal Road Network Reconstruction Project. As part of this agreement, the Chinese Government agreed to provide a RMB 278,730,000 ($42 million) grant for Phase 2. Then, on August 31, 2018, the Kyrgyz and Chinese governments signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the same project. The grant proceeds were to be used to finance a commercial contract between China Road & Bridge Corporation and Bishkek Municipal Infrastructure Construction Authority, which was signed on September 17, 2020. The purpose of phase 2 is the construction, restoration, and reconstruction of 60 municipal roads and 5 bridges in Bishkek measuring 70.87 kilometers in length. More specifically, The scope of the project includes repairs to Tashkentskaya Street (from Turusbekov Street to Togolok Moldo); the construction of an extension of Sukhe-Bator Street (from Karalaev Street to Shabdan Baatyr); and the construction, restoration, and reconstruction of 26 km of roads in residential areas that include the Archa-Beshik, Ak-Orgo, Ak-Ordo, Jenish, Ak-Bosogo, Ene-Sai, Ak-Tilek, Uchkun and Yntymak settlements. China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is the contractor responsible for project implementation. Phase 2 commenced on October 5, 2020 and was originally scheduled for completion by the end of calendar year 2022. As of June 2021, 44 streets were scheduled for completion by the end of 2021 and 16 streets were scheduled for completion by the end of 2022. Several Phase 2 road sections were opened to traffic on August 2, 2022. However, as of January 2023, Phase 2 remained incomplete.