Kazakhstan sets up working group to overhaul road sectorKazakhstan has set up a working group to draw up proposals, including new legislation, for a deep overhaul of its road sector by Dec. 1, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s press service said.Bektenov ordered the group formed as part of the tasks President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set at the first session of the Halyk Kenesi (People’s Council) last month."The prime minister has told the group to propose measures, including legislation, to overhaul the road sector by Dec. 1," the government said in a press release.The group will review how roads are built and how their quality is checked, and update standards and building codes.“The new system for running the sector, including digital tools, will aim to improve roads and make public spending on them more efficient and transparent,” the press service said.The first deputy prime minister heads the group. Its members include officials from the transport, industry and construction, finance, interior, ecology and energy ministries, a deputy chief transport prosecutor, state companies KazMunayGas and KazAvtoZhol, road research and expert agencies, industry experts and Kurultai deputies.Tokayev said at the Sept. 24 session that the state of Kazakhstan’s roads “leaves a lot to be desired.” He said the surface of the Taldykorgan-Ust-Kamenogorsk highway had started to crumble not long after it reopened following reconstruction in December 2023.“The system for assessing road construction quality needs to be reviewed. Work must be strictly supervised at every stage, from start to finish. ... The sector as a whole needs deep reform. Public oversight should also be stronger,” the president said. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX