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Transport inKyrgyzstan is severely constrained by the country's alpine topography. Roads have to snake up steep valleys, cross passes of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) altitude and more, and are subject to frequent mud slides and snow avalanches. Winter travel is close to impossible in many of the more remote and high-altitude regions. Additional problems are because many roads and railway lines built during theSoviet period are today intersected by international boundaries, requiring time-consuming border formalities to cross where they are not completely closed. Thehorse is still a much used transport option, especially in rural and inaccessible areas, as it does not depend on importedfuel.
TheKyrgyz Railway is currently responsible for railway development and maintenance in the country. TheChüy Valley in the north and theFergana Valley in the south were endpoints of theSoviet Union's rail system in Central Asia. Following the emergence of independent post-Soviet states, the rail lines which were built without regard for administrative boundaries have been cut by borders, and traffic is therefore severely curtailed. The small bits of rail lines within Kyrgyzstan, about 370 km of1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)broad gauge in total, have little economic value in the absence of the former bulk traffic over long distances to and from such centers asTashkent,Almaty and the cities of Russia.[citation needed]
In 2022, construction began on a new 186 km extension of the existing railway fromBalykchy toKarakeche, primarily meant to carry coal from mines at Karakeche toBishkek.[1] In June 2023, a railway between Balykchy and Bishkek was officially opened.[2][3]
PresidentJaparov announced the planned construction of a 523 kmChina–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway [ru] (CKU) in 2022. This project had already been proposed and stalled a number of times since the 2000s, possibly due toRussian andKazakh opposition at the time.[4] The CKU Railway would comprise 213 km (132 mi) inChina, 260 km (162 mi) in Kyrgyzstan and 50 km (31 mi) inUzbekistan.[5] The railway, conceived as part of China'sBelt and Road Initiative, is planned to lead fromKashgar through theTorugart Pass toJalal-Abad, and further on to the Uzbek city ofAndijan.[4] An inaugural ceremony was held in Jalal-Abad in December 2024[6] and construction is set to begin in July 2025.[4]
With support from theAsian Development Bank, a major road linking the north and southwest fromBishkek toOsh has recently[when?] been completed. This considerably eases communication between the two major population centers of the country—theChüy Valley in the north and theFergana Valley in the South. An offshoot of this road branches off across a 3,500 meterpass into theTalas Valley in the northwest. Plans are now being formulated to build a major road from Osh into thePeople's Republic of China.
The total length of the road network inKyrgyzstan is approximately 34,000 km.[citation needed] Of them, 18,810 km are public roads directly subordinated to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and 15,190 km - other roads (village, agricultural, industrial etc.).[citation needed] By their status the roads of the Ministry of Transport and Communications are classified as:
By nature of surface there can be distinguished:
Frequent bus and, more commonly,minibus service connects country's major cities. Minibuses provide public transit in cities and between cities to neighboring villages.
The condition of the road network is generally bad, though repairs have been made recently. Usually, only the main roads of population centres are illuminated, and drain lids might be missing on both streets and sidewalks. The roads are often not plowed during winters. Fuel stations are rare outside Bishkek and Osh.[8]
The limitations of Kyrgyzstan's pipeline system are a major impediment to fuel distribution. In 2006 the country had 367 kilometers of natural gas pipeline and 16 kilometers of oil pipeline, after adding 167 kilometers of natural gas pipeline in 2003.[9]
Kyrgyzstan's only port isBalykchy, a fishing town onIssyk Kul Lake. None of Kyrgyzstan's rivers are navigable, and the country has no canals.[9]
Water transport exists only onIssyk Kul Lake, and has drastically shrunk since the end of the Soviet Union.[citation needed]
At the end of the Soviet period there were about 50 airports and airstrips in Kyrgyzstan, many of them built primarily to serve military purposes in this border region so close to China. Only a few of them remain in service today.
There are four airports with international flights, namely inBishkek,Osh,Tamchy andKarakol.
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 1 (Bishkek-Manas)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (Osh,Kant andTokmok)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 (Jalal-Abad,Karakol International,Kerben,Kazarman,Isfana,Batken,Naryn,Talas,Issyk-Kul International,Kyzyl-Kiya andCholpon-Ata)
under 914 m: 6 (Tamga,Toktogul,Kanysh-Kiya,Pokrovka,Aravan andSakaldy) (2012)
total: 29
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (Gulcha,Daroot-Korgon,Ala-Buka,At-Bashy,Suzak andChatkal)
under 914 m: 15 (2012)
