Tashkent mahalla courtyards to be cleared of parking: details of the '15-minute accessible environment' project

What is changing in the courtyards

The Tashkent city administration (hokimiyat) has announced its plans under the '15-minute accessible environment' project, reports Daryo.uz. The key change will affect the inner courtyards of multi-story residential buildings: car parks and driveways are to be moved outside them, and the freed-up space will be used for children's play, walks and residents' leisure.

What else the project includes

In addition to clearing courtyards of cars, the plan is to build shaded alleys and small parks in the mahallas where people can stroll with a stroller or chat with neighbours, to set up sports grounds for children and adults, and to create spaces for gatherings. The mahalla streets will get modern video surveillance systems and clearly visible SOS buttons for calling help in emergencies.

The concept and its scale

The idea behind the project is for kindergartens, schools, family polyclinics, everyday services and leisure spots to be within a 15-minute walk of home — so that daily errands take less time and more of it is left for family and social life. The hokimiyat stresses that the goal is to preserve neighbourly ties, mutual respect and willingness to help, while making the mahallas more convenient and safer.

Timeline and context

According to the plans announced by the capital's hokimiyat, in 2027 Tashkent will comprehensively renovate 100 mahallas on the '15-minute mahalla' principle, and by 2030 — 400 in total. As Daryo.uz notes, on 14 October President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of projects on mahalla improvement, the construction of new schools and kindergartens, and the development of Tashkent's urban environment. For now, this concerns the plans declared by the hokimiyat: the publication does not disclose implementation timelines for specific mahallas or funding sources.