Kazakhstan's Toll Road Expansion Plan Faces Public Backlash

Kazakhstan to Expand Toll Roads Despite Quality Concerns Kazakhstan is set to significantly expand its network of toll roads, adding 29 new sections to the existing 17. This expansion, aiming to generate over 100 billion tenge in revenue, is double the amount collected last year. However, this plan faces challenges due to widespread complaints from drivers regarding the poor condition of many existing toll roads. The Ministry of Transport has proposed a 10% reduction in tolls for sections deemed to be of substandard quality. Adding another layer of complexity, the Minister of Transport, Marat Karabayev, received a reprimand from the President last week for shortcomings in his work. Despite this, Minister Karabayev has stated he will not resign. "A political state employee is not entitled to discuss the decision of the head of state." he said, emphasizing the doubling of transit traffic volumes over the past two years. The situation highlights a tension between the need for revenue generation and the public's demand for better road infrastructure.