The Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have introduced plans to expand rail infrastructure along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The countries presented these plans at a meeting of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The organization aims to enhance infrastructure integration among its member states.
The plans were introduced at a meeting of the EAEU’s Eurasian Economic Commission (ECC). According to the ECC, geopolitical conditions have been a catalyst for global supply chain transformations. The member states of the EAEU consequently intend to develop their infrastructure to match newly emerging supply chains. The ECC endorsed infrastructure plans that overwhelmingly concern road infrastructure projects in August 2022.
Now, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan want to take the EAEU’s projects a step further and expand railway infrastructure. The countries aim at the development of the eastern part of the INSTC, which runs southward from Russia along the Caspian Sea in the direction of Iran.
Upgrades and new lines
Kazakhstan presented projects that include upgrades to railways stretching from the Russian border town Orsk down to the Kazakh-Turkmen border, a railway connecting the Caspian port city of Mangystau to inland Kazakhstan and various railways that link Kazakhstan to Russia. Additionally, an entirely new railway will be constructed along the border with Uzbekistan.
For its part, Kyrgyzstan proposed the construction of the railway stretching from the town of Balykchy at its large Issyk-Kul lake to the city of Jalal-Abad. The new railway is supposed to contribute to the development of a unified railway network in the country and increase the capacity of transit routes through Kyrgyzstan.
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