"This is a red herring": the public is against the construction of a parking lot near the National Library
On a 1.3-hectare territory behind the National Library in the center of Tashkent, the construction of a parking lot is planned. The land plot will be put up for auction with a starting price of 514.2 million soums, and the winner of the project will have to invest at least 10 billion soums.
"This is a distraction": the public opposes the construction of a parking lot near the National Library
The Tashkent Khokimiyat intends to build a parking lot under a public-private partnership on a 1.3-hectare plot of land located behind the Alisher Navoi National Library.
The project is initiated by the capital's administration, which calls it a "project for the improvement of a parking lot and public space." The technical specifications also stipulate the preservation of existing trees, the planting of new saplings, the creation of pedestrian and bicycle paths, recreation areas, children's playgrounds, and workout zones.
Nevertheless, the idea of changing the primary purpose of the 1.3-hectare plot in the city center and turning it into a parking lot raises questions among the public. This refers to the territory between the Hyatt Regency Tashkent hotel, Independence Square, and the buildings of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is currently fully landscaped with greenery.
By the decision of the Khokim of Tashkent, Shavkat Umurzakov, dated September 14, 2026, the conditions for implementing the public-private partnership project on the green territory behind the National Library were approved. "Toshkent Invest" has been designated as the state partner, and the land tax rate is set at 514 million 228 thousand soums. Under the terms, 15 percent of the payments received from the parking lot to be organized on this territory will be transferred to the state partner, and 5 percent to the "Paid Parking" operator.
"This place is already an alley"
The fate of the green territory where the library is located is causing concern among public activists.
Kobil Khidirov believes that this is merely an attempt to distract attention.
"Although the technical specifications, along with the parking lot, include a plan to 'create an alley,' we believe this is a distraction. The alley is already there anyway,"
and he calls turning such an area in the city center into a parking space for hundreds of cars a "controversial decision" from the perspective of the urban environment: