The traffic jams in Bishkek have long been one of the most acute transport challenges. Congested streets and slow traffic cause inconvenience not only to ordinary citizens but also create serious problems for special services. This is especially important for the prompt work of rescue services, ambulance services, firefighters and police, who often need to get quickly to the accident scene.

Congestion on Bishkek's roads, like in large megacities such as Jakarta, mainly occurs during peak hours - in the morning and evening. The main reasons are the large number of cars, unauthorised parking on the central streets and ongoing road works, during which traffic on the city's main thoroughfares is restricted for several weeks.

The seriousness of the situation can be assessed based on 2GIS data: in three months - July, August and September - citizens stood in traffic jams for 777 hours. In October, the situation has not changed dramatically - the city streets are still congested, and the traffic jam level reaches 9 points out of 10. This worsens the quality of residents' lives and reduces the city infrastructure's overall efficiency. The question arises: what can be done to solve this problem?

The municipality has been taking steps to reduce congestion: streets are being cleared of parked cars, taxi routes are being optimised, and transferring officials to buses on certain days are being introduced. However, more extensive measures are needed for radical changes, as current solutions do not lead to significant improvements.

In this regard, the party ‘Emgek’, running in the Bishkek city council elections, proposes a bold and revolutionary solution to traffic congestion - the railway ‘second floor’ of construction. At first glance, this may seem like a fantastic idea, but it could become a key step in eliminating transport collapse in the capital city.

’Bishkek's transport problem is known to everyone, and it is already clear that the solutions initiated by the municipality do not adequately relieve the load. Therefore, we propose, let's say, a very radical, but at the same time effective approach - to abandon half-measures and use such a progressive solution as the construction of a passenger ‘’second floor‘’ over the existing railway,' the Chairman of the Emgek party, Toktosun Sultanov, said.

According to him, this project is part of the party's election programme, as it will significantly relieve the capital's main streets and become a convenient travel option for the city's eastern and western districts residents.

"Such an above-ground transport system will give people the opportunity to move quickly and comfortably around Bishkek, solving one of the most acute problems of the city - regular traffic jams. In addition, this is an environmentally friendly project that will fit perfectly into the development of the city's infrastructure. We are confident that this approach will be able to fundamentally change the city's transport system and create a new mobility model for the future of Bishkek,' Sultanov stated.

THE PROJECT HAS SEVERAL ADVANTAGES:

1. Traffic congestion reduction. The new elevated transport will significantly reduce the number of cars on the streets, which will result in reduced traffic jams and improved environmental conditions.
2. Comfort and modernity. This project implementation will allow the city to create not only an efficient but also a high-tech transport system that meets world standards and will provide passengers with maximum comfort.

3. Convenience for thousands of citizens. This new transport route will be especially useful for residents of Bishkek's remote districts, allowing them to get to their destinations much faster and more conveniently.

   Despite measures already taken to improve public transport, it is clear that current efforts are insufficient. More radical and progressive solutions such as the aboveground transport system are required. This is exactly the kind of step that could be a breakthrough in the city's infrastructure development.

   This ‘second-floor’ railway project is not just an ambitious proposal, but a real solution that will open up new opportunities for the further development of the capital. Citizens will be able to move around the city comfortably and without delays, which will ultimately allow Bishkek to grow and develop in harmony with modern environmental and infrastructure requirements.

   Recall, elections to the Bishkek City Kenesh will be held on 17 November. The party ‘Emgek’ is on the ballot paper under No. 4