Tashkent’s master plan open to revision, but not for private interests – Ministry of Construction

Tashkent’s long-awaited master plan, designed to guide development through 2045, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on December 24, 2024. The resolution mandated that all construction activities adhere to this plan.

Six months later, on July 9, 2025, Spot reported, citing Aziz Khalilov, head of a ministry department, that the master plan might be amended. Responding to a question, Khalilov stated, “Such a possibility exists,” adding that any final decision would rely on expert conclusions.

“Analyses are currently underway to revise the Tashkent master plan. The existing document uses outdated calculations for building heights in certain areas. For example, the plan specifies a maximum of five stories, but in practice, construction of up to 16 stories is feasible in those areas,” Khalilov explained.

On July 17, during an open discussion at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, construction entrepreneur Murod Nazarov addressed the topic. “God willing, we’re expecting the Tashkent master plan to be adjusted soon,” Nazarov said, before proposing a controversial lifting of the moratorium on tree cutting.

However, Deputy Minister of Construction Davron Odilov clarified in a July 23 interview with Kun.uz that revising the master plan is not on the ministry’s agenda and that entrepreneurs’ proposals, like Nazarov’s, would not be considered.

“There’s no such thing [revision of the Tashkent master plan – ed.] on our agenda. [Murod Nazarov] didn’t speak about the ministry, its officials, or the master plan’s revision. He said, ‘We want to propose adjustments to the master plan.’ We haven’t received any such proposal, haven’t reviewed it, and won’t review it. It’s not on the Ministry of Construction’s agenda,” Odilov stated.

To clarify these statements, the Ministry of Construction’s press service provided further comments. “When the deputy minister said the master plan would not be revised, he was responding to the entrepreneur’s notion of a planned ‘adjustment’ for their own benefit. The master plan is not altered based on an entrepreneur’s proposal or idea. Rather, it is a continuously evolving process.

“It should be noted that the deputy minister did not address the broader improvement of the city’s master plan. The entrepreneur was referring to specific changes for personal gain,” the statement read.

The ministry added that the development of the master plan prioritizes scientific foundations, urban planning requirements, and public opinion. The Tashkentboshplanliti Institute, established in 1969, conducts ongoing research to refine the master plans for Tashkent and Samarkand.

“No revisions to the master plan are made based on proposals or orders from entrepreneurs. The deputy minister’s response does not contradict the department head’s statement but complements it. The master plan is not a document subject to change based on an entrepreneur’s opinion,” the ministry concluded.