Samarkand and Bukhara planned to be connected by toll highway

The car trip between the two cities is expected to take an hour and a half instead of the current five. A railway line for high-speed trains is also planned to be laid along the same route. Relevant agencies have been instructed to finalize the master plans for the road and railway projects, as well as to enter into negotiations with potential partners. The cost, construction start dates, and financing sources have not yet been disclosed.

In the Bukhara region itself, the reconstruction of a section of the A-380 highway is scheduled for completion in 2026. In 2027, work will kick off to upgrade 69 km of the M-37 road within the region. This project is estimated at 200 million dollars and includes a 4.5 km bypass around Bukhara.

According to Gazeta.uz, the Samarkand–Bukhara toll highway has been under discussion since 2024: at the time, its cost was estimated at 1 billion dollars, implementation was scheduled for 2027–2030, and it was envisioned to engage a private partner based on a public-private partnership.

The meeting also addressed the Bukhara international airport under construction, valued at 300 million dollars. The president instructed that it be completed along with the access road by September 1, 2027.