Arkadag

Capital of Ahal Province, Turkmenistan For the former president of Turkmenistan entitled as such, see Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Place in Ahal Province, Turkmenistan

Arkadag şäheri Arkadag

Arkadag şäheriLocation in Turkmenistan
Coordinates: 38°4′N 58°4′E / 38.067°N 58.067°E / 38.067; 58.067
Country	Turkmenistan
Province	Ahal Province
Named for	Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow
Government
• Mayor (Häkim)	Gülşat Mämmedowa
Area
• Total	11.21 km (4.33 sq mi)
Population
• Total	64,086
Time zone	UTC+5
Area code	(+993) 12
Website	arkadag-shaheri.gov.tm

Arkadag (Turkmen arka "behind" + dag "mountain", connoting "protector") is a city in southern Turkmenistan. It became the regional capital of Ahal Province effective 20 December 2022. It is a largely greenfield development started in 2019 with an initial budget of $1.5 billion. The city was named in honor of former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is officially entitled Arkadag. Uniquely among Turkmen cities, Arkadag is by law designated a "city of state importance".

Geography

The city is situated on a plain due west of the city limit of Turkmenistan's capital city, Ashgabat, and east of the neighboring city of Gökdepe at latitude 38.0659 degrees north and longitude 58.0727 degrees east. By parliamentary decree of 18 March 2023 the city was divided into two districts (Turkmen: etraplar, singular etrap), named Kärizek and Gorjaw. As of 30 March 2023, the districts were upgraded to boroughs, each with a presidentially appointed mayor.

Kärizek Borough includes the residential community (formerly a village) of Aba Annaýew, constructed to house equestrians and support staff for the nearby hippodrome. In May 2023 the Turkmenistan parliament designated Aba Annaýew a town, subordinate to the city of Arkadag and part of Kärizek Borough.

History

In November 2018, then-President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow began reviewing project proposals for construction of a new capital for Ahal Province. On 4 March 2019, Berdimuhamedow issued a decree ordering construction to begin. Construction began with a ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of the new provincial administration building on 10 April 2019. Although earlier project proposals had planned for the city's area to cover no more than 880 hectares, the approved project was for 1002 hectares.

By parliamentary decree of 20 December 2022, the city was named Arkadag in honor of Berdimuhamedow, the seat of Ahal Province was moved from Anau to Arkadag, and the nearby village of Aba Annayew was annexed to the city. Local media reported,

With the goals of improving living conditions of the population in the framework of the first phase of construction 258 2-, 5-, 7- and 9-story apartment buildings will be built. In addition, 19 retail stores, 3 repair centers, a hotel, a shopping mall and a leisure park are being built.

On 23 January 2023 the municipal court and prosecutor were created by presidential decree. A law passed in March 2023 on the city's status designated it a "city of national importance" (Turkmen: döwlet ähmiýetli şäher).

In July 2023 opposition media reported that demolition had begun of the village of Gorjaw to allow completion of the new city of Arkadag. State-controlled media reported in October 2023 that the second phase of construction is scheduled to be completed by September 2026. This announcement clarified an earlier report of March 2023 that the second phase of construction was to be completed by 2026.

In November 2023, Arkadag's land area was expanded by another 119 hectares, 102 from neighboring Gökdepe District and 17 from the city of Ashgabat.

Cost of construction

Opposition media reported in February 2023 that imported construction materials for the second phase of construction would cost an estimated $1.296 billion, in addition to the presumed original cost of phase one construction of $1.466 billion, implying a total cost of city construction in excess of $2.76 billion. In March 2023, however, a Turkmen construction official reported that the first phase would cost an estimated $3.3 billion and the second phase an estimated $1.5 billion, for a total of $4.8 billion.

Planned amenities

Phase two construction is reported to include

...five secondary schools for 720 pupils each, nine kindergartens for 320 children, a polyclinic, fire station...administrative buildings of the mayor of Arkadag, a museum, a square, a shopping center and a household goods store in one building, 36 five-storey apartment buildings with 30 apartments each, 36 five-storey apartment buildings with 40 apartments each, twenty-four 42-apartment seven-storey building, 14 nine-storey buildings of 54 apartments each...a railway station, a bus depot and a taxi dispatcher station, a bus station of Ahal Province.

In June 2023 President Serdar Berdimuhamedow decreed that the city include a seismological station for monitoring seismic activity. He also decreed that Arkadag city should feature factories for production of "food, industrial, pharmaceutical and medical products". In January 2024, President Berdimuhamedow approved a contract with Goetzpartners Emerging Markets GmbH, a German firm, for consulting services related to construction of facilities for producing food, pharmaceutical, medical, and other industrial goods.

City inauguration celebrations

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov ordered the Cabinet of Ministers to prepare celebrations in honor of the city's opening for 2023, including a military parade and concert on the Main Square. The cornerstone of the mosque was laid 20 January 2023. By presidential decree the city's formal opening was set for 29 June 2023, which coincided with the birthday of former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.

Architecture

Buildings

The city was built based on a centralized architectural plan following a design competition involving five separate submissions. All buildings are faced with white marble along symmetrically laid out streets. The following facilities will be named as follows:

Arkadag Monument
Aba Annayev International Academy of Horse Breeding
Berdimuhamed Annayev Ahal Velayat Pedagogical Secondary Vocational School
Sachly Dursunova Ahal Velayat Medical Secondary Vocational School
Görogly State Equestrian Circus
Döwletmämmet Azady Ahal Velayat Library
Aman Gulmammedov State Drama Theater
Sahy Jepbarov Specialized Art School of Ahal Velayat
Shukur Bagshy Children's Art School

All residential buildings, except for the two-story cottages, are equipped with modern elevators able to serve as cargo elevators.

Medical institutions

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow Health and Rehabilitation Center
Ahal Region Health Department
General hospital with 350 beds
Oncology center with 150 beds,
Maternal and child health center with 150 beds
Ambulance center

Smart city

Arkadag is intended to be Turkmenistan's first "smart city".

Industry

It is planned to create an industrial cluster in the city focused on the production of certain types of products from the medical and pharmaceutical industries and baby food. The German company Goetzpartners will provide consulting services for the construction of facilities in the industrial zone of the city of Arkadag for the production of food, industrial, pharmaceutical and medical products.

Street names

People's Council of Turkmenistan Chairperson and former President of Turkmenistan Berdimuhamedov has proposed naming Arkadag's streets after "great personages, who left their undimmed impact on national culture, art, literature, and history," and in particular named Berdi Kerbabayev, Kerim Gurbannepesow, Gurbannazar Ezizow, Alty Garlyyev, and Maya Kuliyeva, among others.

Districts

As of 30 March 2023 Arkadag includes two boroughs: Kärizek etraby and Gorjaw etraby, (Turkmen: etraplar), each with a presidentially appointed mayor (Turkmen: häkim).

The former village of Aba Annayev was upgraded to town status, and is included in Kärizek District.

Transportation

The city is connected to Ashgabat by Kopetdag Avenue and the M37 highway.

The largest nearby airport is Ashgabat International Airport, which offers domestic and international flights.

Railway

A railway station will be built in the city. There are plans to launch express passenger rail service on the Arkadag-Ashgabat route with a speed of up to 140 km/hour. The travel time of the electric train from Ashgabat to Arkadag will be 18 minutes. It is expected that the project will be implemented by Russian Railways.

A high-speed railroad also is planned from Arkadag to Avaza.

Automobile transport

The city plans to introduce ground-based public electric transport, including Chinese Yutong electric buses and Jac J7 cars.

Electric vehicles Runhorse Jinma are used to deliver groceries throughout the city.

Cycleways

The city will include 15 km of bicycle paths. A first mass cycling rally was held in April 2023.

Roads

The city is equipped with smart traffic lights. They are equipped with special buttons and sound signals so that visually- and hearing-impaired people can easily cross streets. The traffic lights will change their operating mode depending on traffic congestion on the streets and intersections. Computer servers analyze images from street cameras and send signals to the traffic lights.

Sidewalks are paved with tactile sidewalk tiles.

Pedestrian overpasses in the city are equipped with elevators or escalators.

Media

The city launched its own Arkadag television channel and Arkadag newspaper.

Telecommunication

2G, 3G and LTE networks from Altyn Asyr are available in the city.

Optical GPON network was put into operation in the city. Each apartment was connected to a fiber optic network, which allows you to simultaneously use Internet, IPTV and telephony. The network has covered fixed numbers and provides access to 235 local and international TV channels.

Sports

The city's professional football club, FC Arkadag, plays in the Ýokary Liga, the top league of Turkmenistan.

Arkadag Stadium can accommodate 10,000 spectators.

Twin towns and sister cities

Arkadag is twinned with:

Kazan (Tatarstan), since 2023
Telavi (Georgia), since 2023
Maisons-Laffitte (France), since 2023

References

Указ Президента Туркменистана О Маммедовой Г.С. (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 5 May 2024
^ "Постановление Меджлиса Милли Генгеша Туркменистана об отнесении к категории города нового современного административного центра Ахалского велаята и присвоении ему наименования" (in Russian). Электронная газета «Золотой век». 21 December 2022.
"В Масштабной Программе Развития Регионов--Приоритеты Социальной Политики". Нейтральный Туркменистан. 1 November 2018.
"Глава государства рассмотрел проект нового административного центра Ахалского велаята" (in Russian). Государственное информационное агентство Туркменистана. 31 October 2018.
"Ahal welaýatynda sebitiň Aşgabatdan pes oturmaýan täze paýtagty gurlar" (in Turkmen). Chronicles of Turkmenistan. 1 November 2018.
"В день смерти Туркменбаши в Туркменистане назвали город Аркадагом" (in Russian). Turkmen.News. 22 December 2022.
Rickleton, Chris (25 December 2022). "Turkmenistan Builds New $1.5 Billion City, Far Removed From Grinding Poverty". RFE/RL.
Meredow, Begenç (26 December 2022). "Образец славного будущего страны" (in Russian). Нейтральный туркменистан. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
^ Совместное заседание по реализации задач касательно города Аркадаг (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 26 March 2023
^ ЗАКОН ТУРКМЕНИСТАНА О городе Аркадаг (in Russian), Neytralny Turkmenistan, 24 March 2023, p. 2, archived from the original on 9 July 2023, retrieved 27 March 2023
Постановление Меджлиса Туркменистана Об образовании новых этрапов в городе Аркадаг (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 19 March 2023
Arkadag şäherinde täze etraplary döretmek hakynda Türkmenistanyň Mejlisiniň Karary (in Turkmen), Türkmenistan Bu gün, 19 March 2023
^ Созданы хякимлики этрапов города Аркадаг (in Russian), «Туркменистан: Золотой век», 30 March 2023
Постановление Меджлиса Туркменистана [Decree of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan] (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 10 May 2023
^ "В Туркменистане будет создан новый административный центр Ахалского велаята" (in Russian). Turkmenportal. 1 November 2018.
^ "Выездное расширенное заседание Кабинета Министров Туркменистана" (in Russian). Neytralny Turkmenistan. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
"В Туркменистане заложили новый центр Ахалского велаята" (in Russian). SNG.Today. 10 April 2019.
"ПОСТАНОВЛЕНИЕ МЕДЖЛИСА МИЛЛИ ГЕНГЕША ТУРКМЕНИСТАНА Об отнесении к категории города нового современного административного центра Ахалского велаята и присвоении ему наименования" (in Russian). Neytralny Turkmenistan. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
Указ Президента Туркменистана о создании суда города Аркадаг Ахалского велаята (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 23 January 2023
Создана прокуратура города Аркадаг Ахалского велаята (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 23 January 2023
TÜRKMENISTANYŇ KANUNY Arkadag şäheri hakynda (in Turkmen), Türkmenistan, 24 March 2023, p. 2, archived from the original on 27 March 2023, retrieved 27 March 2023
Селу Горджов настал Аркадаг. Из-за возведения нового города у людей отняли дома и участки (in Russian), Turkmen.News, 19 July 2023
Жители села Горджав, на месте которого строят Аркадаг, разбирают дома (фото) (in Russian), Chronicles of Turkmenistan, 24 July 2023
Local construction companies will build the second phase of construction in the city of Arkadag, Turkmenistan Today, 9 October 2023
Предписано реализовать вторую очередь строительства города Аркадаг в 2023-2026 годах [Ordered to implement second phase of Arkadag city construction in 2023-2026] (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 7 March 2023
Национальный Лидер туркменского народа ознакомился с проектами второй очереди застройки Аркадага (in Russian), Голос СНГ, 13 November 2023
Постановление Меджлиса Туркменистана о внесении изменений в административную территорию города Аркадаг (in Russian), Золотой век, 10 November 2023
Импортные стройматериалы для застройки второй очереди Аркадага обойдутся Туркменистану в $1,3 млрд [Imported construction materials for building the second phase of Arkadag will run Turkmenistan $1.3 billion] (in Russian), Chronicles of Turkmenistan, 20 February 2023
New city honouring Turkmenistan's leader to cost $5 billion, Agence France-Presse, 29 March 2023
Рабочая поездка Национального Лидера туркменского народа, Председателя Халк Маслахаты в город Аркадаг Ахалского велаята (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 18 February 2023
Khyakimlik of Arkadag city was mandated to hold international tenders, Turkmenistan Today, 16 June 2023
Enterprises for manufacture of food, medical and other products will be built in Arkadag city, Turkmenistan Today, 16 June 2023
Государственному комитету по строительству города Аркадаг разрешено заключить контракт с компанией "Goetzpartners Emerging Markets GmbH" (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 27 January 2024
A military parade will be held in honor of the opening of the city of Arkadag, Orient, 23 December 2022, retrieved 2022-12-29
В городе Аркадаг состоялась закладка Главной мечети Ахалского велаята (in Russian), Türkmenistan Bu gün, 20 January 2023
President of Turkmenistan instructed to hold an opening ceremony of Arkadag city at high level, Turkmenistan Today, 16 June 2023
"Главный план города Аркадаг ахалского велаята на 2022 год (Main plan of the city of Arkadag of Ahal Province for 2022)" (in Russian). Электронная газета «Золотой век». 21 December 2022.
Admin (2022-12-22). "Arkadag city is the new center of the Akhal province of Turkmenistan". News Central Asia (nCa). Retrieved 2022-12-29.
Постановление Меджлиса Туркменистана О присвоении имён выдающихся личностей туркменского народа учреждениям образования, здравоохранения, культуры и монументу искусства, построенным в городе Аркадаг [Decree of the Turkmenistan Mejlis on assignment of names of outstanding personages of the Turkmen people to establishments of education, healthcare, culture and to a monument of art, constructed in the city of Arkadag] (in Russian), Туркменистан сегодня, 19 March 2023
Arkadag şäherinde gurlan bilim, saglygy goraýyş, medeniýet edaralaryna we sungat binasyna türkmen halkynyň görnükli şahsyýetleriniň atlaryny dakmak hakynda Türkmenistanyň Mejlisiniň Karary [Decree of the Turkmenistan Mejlis on assignment of names of outstanding personages of the Turkmen people to establishments of education, healthcare, culture and to a monument of art, constructed in the city of Arkadag] (in Turkmen), Türkmenistan Bu gün, 19 March 2023
В городе Аркадаг возводится несколько медицинских центров (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 31 December 2022
"Новый Центр Ахала – "умный" город (New Center of Ahal - a "smart" city)" (in Russian). Электронная газета «Золотой век». 12 September 2022.
Национальный Лидер туркменского народа пригласил германские компании участвовать в создании индустриального кластера города Аркадаг (in Russian), Туркменистан: Золотой век, 29 September 2023
Гурбангулы Бердымухамедов пригласил компании ФРГ участвовать в создании индустриального кластера в городе Аркадаг (in Russian), Turkmenportal
Türkmenistanyň Prezidenti "Arkadag şäherini ösdürmegiň meseleleri hakynda" Karara gol çekdi T.H.P. (in Turkmen), Türkmenistan habaralar portaly, 29 January 2024
Государственному комитету по строительству города Аркадаг разрешено заключить контракт с компанией "Goetzpartners Emerging Markets GmbH" (in Russian), Туркменистан: Золотой век, 27 January 2024
О встрече с делегацией компании "Goetzpartners" (in Russian), Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"Председатель Халк Маслахаты Милли Генгеша ознакомился с ходом строительства нового административного центра Ахалского велаята" (in Russian). Электронная газета «Золотой век». 19 November 2022.
В городе Аркадаг появились два этрапа – Кяризек и Горджав (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 20 March 2023
Жилому комплексу этрапа Кяризек города Аркадаг присвоен статус посёлка (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 11 May 2023
23 июля в посёлке Аба Аннаева города Аркадаг пройдут выборы в органы местного самоуправления (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 16 May 2023
^ В городе Аркадаг построят высокоскоростные железные дороги в Ашхабад и Авазу (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 25 February 2023
РЖД предложили Туркменистану запустить экспресс-поезда между Аркадагом и Ашхабадом (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 4 May 2023
Электропоезд свяжет город Аркадаг и Ашхабад
Новый этап в туркмено-российских дружественных торговых отношениях
Аркадаг станет первым городом в Туркменистане, где будет функционировать общественный электротранспорт (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 22 December 2022
Электромобиль JAC E-J7 представили на транспортной выставке в Ашхабаде (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 5 May 2023
Город Аркадаг внедряет электромобили Jinma для доставки товаров
Электромобили для служб доставки
В новом административном центре Ахала появится 15 км велодорожек, тактильная тротуарная плитка и "умные" светофоры (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 4 October 2022
В городе Аркадаг прошел массовый велопробег при участии Гурбангулы Бердымухамедова (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 8 April 2023
^ В новом административном центре Ахала появится 15 км велодорожек, тактильная тротуарная плитка и "умные" светофоры (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 4 October 2022
Сердар Бердымухамедов назначил директора телеканала "Аркадаг" (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 3 April 2023
С 1 сентября 2023 года в Туркменистане начнёт вещать новый телеканал «Аркадаг» (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 30 March 2023
Президент Туркменистана назначил главного редактора газеты "Аркадаг" (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 3 April 2023
Открыта подписка на газету «Аркадаг» на второе полугодие 2023 года (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 3 May 2023
"TM CELL Ýapyk görnüşli paýdarlar jemgyýeti".
В городе Аркадаг Туркменистана внедрили передовые цифровые технологии
Туркменистан внедряет передовые цифровые технологии в городе Аркадаг
Турнирная таблица чемпионата Туркменистана по футболу: "Аркадаг" сохраняет первое место, "Алтын асыр" и "Копетдаг" — в тройке лидеров (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 18 May 2023
10-тысячный стадион в "умном" городе Аркадаг примет первый футбольный матч (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 29 June 2023
Новый стадион в городе Аркадаг примет первый футбольный матч (in Russian), Orient, 29 June 2023
Новый город Аркадаг стал побратимом Казани и Телави (in Russian), Turkmenportal, 30 June 2023
Аркадаг и Мезон-Лаффит станут городами-побратимами (in Russian), TASS, 6 September 2023

External links

Official web-site
Law of Turkmenistan "On Arkadag city" (in Russian)

Misplaced Pages