On July 25, Kyrgyzstan launched the operation of the Balykchy-Kochkor railway line and Kochkor station in the Naryn region. The new 63-km line is the first stage of the Balykchy – Kara-Keche – Makmal railway construction project.
At the opening ceremony, President Sadyr Japarov said that the new line will be extended from Kochkor to Kara-Keche and Makmal. This strategic project will connect the north and south of the country with a single railway line, link the Kara-Keche coal deposit in the Naryn region with industrial centers, strengthen the country’s transport connectivity, and help increase domestic freight transportation and logistics capabilities.
“In the future, this route will become part of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway corridor, making Kyrgyzstan a strategic transport hub connecting continents. This will expand the country’s transit potential, increase exports, attract new investment, and ensure growth in tourism,” Japarov emphasized.
Japarov also said that Kyrgyzstan has constructed the Balykchy-Kochkor line with its own forces and funds. “The construction of the track itself cost $955,000 per kilometer,” the president said. For comparison, he cited construction costs offered by foreign companies—between $4.8 million and $6.8 million per kilometer.
“We have revived the culture of railway construction, our engineering potential, and professional experience. This historic achievement proves that our country is capable of independently implementing large-scale infrastructure projects,” Japarov said.
Photo: president.kg
