On February 29, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Khorezm region. The Head of our state first visited the Amudarya district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, where he took part in the opening ceremony of a new bridge.

This strategically significant construction holds immense economic and social importance. The President initiated the project on December 13, 2020, during a meeting with activists from the Khorezm region. Since then, large-scale construction work has been undertaken. The Head of our state visited its construction site twice.

A solemn opening ceremony of the new bridge was held today with the participation of officials and activists from the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region.

The President conducted an initial assessment of the bridge's quality, traveling over it by train and car, before convening a meeting with community representatives. During the meeting, he emphasized the significant impact of the facility on the region and its residents.

“The development of the Aral Sea region, especially the Republic of Karakalpakstan, is one of the key objectives of our country's development strategy, aimed at improving living conditions for our citizens who are facing the consequences of ecological challenges. As I have said before, the fate of Karakalpakstan is the fate of Uzbekistan, and the happiness and well-being of the Karakalpak people are the happiness and well-being of the entire Uzbekistan people. Today, we are taking another significant step towards achieving this noble goal," said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The bridge was constructed in one of the most remote areas of our country. Until now, people used an old pontoon bridge brought in the fifties of the last century. Every spring, with the melting of snow and the rise of water in the river, it suffered serious damage. This caused many difficulties for the people on both sides of the river.

For example, the residents of the Amudarya district were compelled to travel to Nukus via Urgench and Beruni by car, requiring an additional 180 kilometers of travel. Meanwhile, the train route passes through the Hazorasp Bridge on the eastern side of Khorezm.

Through the new bridge, these difficulties will be addressed, bringing the people closer together. It will serve as the closest road and rail link connecting Karakalpakstan with Khorezm.

The length of the bridge is 423 meters. Along with it, an 85-kilometer-long railroad connecting Shavat and Karauzak stations, as well as three railroad stations were built.

As a result of this construction, the road's capacity has increased fourfold, 12 thousand vehicles can pass through it every day. Consequently, the travel time for 48,000 travelers is reduced by 2 hours, ensuring safe passage over the river.

The bridge allows for the passage of 24 pairs of trains in both directions, reducing the railway distance to 180 kilometers and shortening freight transport time to 6 hours. This doubles the local cargo capacity annually, while halving transport costs. Furthermore, this railway opens up new routes to Kazakhstan and Russia

In addition, stone from the Karauzak mines is now transported by trains rather than trucks. This ensures that the highways catering to 4 million residents and tourists in the Aral Sea region can be maintained in good condition, bringing significant benefits to the local population, entrepreneurs, and tourists.

 “This magnificent bridge that we have built together is not just another piece of infrastructure. This bridge symbolizes the strong trust, friendship, solidarity, mutual respect, and cooperation between the Uzbek and Karakalpak peoples. This road symbolizes the development and prosperity path of New Uzbekistan and New Karakalpakstan, both of which are now opening up to the world. I congratulate all of us on this historic day when the dreams of thousands of our compatriots living on both banks of this great river come true," the President said.

Uzbek leader expressed gratitude to all individuals, including skilled workers, architects, and engineers, who diligently contributed to the completion of the bridge under challenging climatic conditions. It was emphasized that efforts to improve living conditions for the population will continue consistently.

In particular, the electrification of the Bukhara-Urgench-Khiva railway route is underway, with plans to extend it to the Miskin-Nukus railway route next year. This initiative will introduce high-speed train services to Khiva and Nukus, significantly easing travel for residents to other cities in the country. These projects are expected to cut transportation costs in half and boost passenger traffic by 30 percent.

In general, such major projects contribute to the economic growth of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm, increasing investment inflows and job opportunities, and boosting household incomes.

Speakers at the ceremony congratulated everyone on this historic event in our country's life and expressed gratitude to the Head of state for his attention to the development of the Aral Sea region.