In December 2024, 17 pedestrian crossings were closed in Dushanbe. The Interior Ministry stated that they were too close to each other and were one of the reasons for traffic jams on the roads. As usual, residents were upset, as now they have to walk much longer to cross the road.
Experts believe that one of the most economical solutions to both problems is the construction of overhead pedestrian crossings, as there are almost none in Tajikistan at the moment.
Manizha Ibodova, a resident of the Ispechak neighborhood unit in Dushanbe’s Sino district, commented on the news about the closure of a crossing in her area, complaining:
"This creates a serious danger for the elderly, disabled, and children." According to her, since the next crossing is too far away, most people jump over fences and cross the road, which is dangerous.
She added that accidents often occurred in this area, and the pedestrian crossing was built a couple of years ago specifically at the request of residents.
Overhead pedestrian crossings: cheap and safe
Currently, Dushanbe has 13 underground crossings and only 3 overhead ones, serving the Kushoniyon shopping center.
However, the Dushanbe Department of Construction, Reconstruction, and Road and Bridge Repair reported that the construction of overhead pedestrian crossings has already begun.
"In particular, more than 7 overhead crossings will be built on Qakhhorov Street, where road reconstruction is currently underway," the department stated.
According to the source, it takes about 5 million somoni to build one such crossing, whereas one underground crossing costs almost 10 million somoni.
The department promises that overhead crossings will also be built on other reconstructed roads.
In particular, on Saadi Sherozi Street, the construction of 4 two-level structures is planned. They will be located at the intersections of Saadi Sherozi and Negmat Karabaev Streets, Saadi Sherozi and Qakhhorov Streets, Sadriddin Ayni and Shevchenko Streets, and an automobile bridge will be built over the railway at the intersection of Habibullo Nazar and Saadi Sherozi Streets.
These plans are expected to be implemented within the next two years.
According to the master plan, overhead pedestrian crossings will be built step by step in other areas of the capital.
As noted by Alovidin Anoyatshoyev, head of the Construction Department at the Ministry of Transport, the possibility of constructing underground or overhead crossings also depends on the location.
"For example, in areas with a high water table, it is not possible to build an underground crossing, and all crossings will be overhead," he said.
According to specialists from the Dushanbe Department of Construction, Reconstruction, and Road and Bridge Repair, overhead pedestrian crossings have clear advantages – they do not interfere with traffic while ensuring the safety of citizens and allowing them to move freely.
Regional experience
According to Gazeta.uz, as of 2022, Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, had 10 overhead pedestrian crossings and 41 underground crossings.
The Tashkent administration allocated 8.5 million dollars (107.2 billion soums) for the construction of 25 additional overhead crossings by 2026.
The construction of one overhead crossing in Tashkent costs on average 425,000 dollars (4.6 million somoni).
In Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 2004 to 2024, 108 pedestrian crossings were built, including 46 underground and 62 overhead. Another 14 crossings are planned to be built by 2026.
According to sources, the cost of building overhead crossings in Almaty ranges from 235,987 dollars (2.5 million somonis) to 465,346 dollars (5 million somonis).
