Astana, 23 October. Of 1,428 roadside service facilities on national highways, 93% meet the national standard, according to the roadside service development plan that acting Transport Minister M.Kaliakparov approved by order No. 281 on 14 October; facilities in five regions fully meet the standard, while Turkestan, West Kazakhstan and Karaganda regions score worst, the Telegram channel Numbers and Power writes.
Roadside services are the filling stations, cafés, motels, car parks, toilets and breakdown points along the roads. The national standard, in force since 2015, sets a minimum set of services for each category of facility, such as a heated toilet, a rest area and parking for lorries.
The order took effect on 20 October. According to its text, the plan is meant to create a modern network of roadside facilities on international and national highways, make the roads more attractive for transit and tourism, and draw more private investment into roadside infrastructure. The regional figures are in a section of the plan that is not available in the open version of the document, so they are given here as reported by the channel.
According to the plan, five regions, including Akmola and Pavlodar, meet the standard in full. Turkestan (85%), West Kazakhstan (87%) and Karaganda (88%) lag behind. The authorities next intend to move from individual roadside stops to a network of large service hubs, but the plan, according to the channel, does not say how 99 problem facilities will be upgraded.
Progress over the years is visible. In September 2021 Deputy Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Berik Kamaliyev counted 1,738 facilities along national roads, of which 1,093, or 63%, met the standard; the worst then were Mangystau (45%), Pavlodar and Turkestan (49% each). At the time, the ministry promised to reach 100% compliance by 2025. The number of facilities on record has since fallen by 310; the available data do not say why, whether because they closed or were removed from the register.
The 100% promised for 2025 had been reached by five regions as of October 2026.
What it means: Over five years the share of roadside facilities offering the minimum amenities required by the standard has risen from 63% to 93%. Pavlodar region, one of the worst in 2021, is now among the regions at 100%, while Turkestan region is still near the bottom; the promise to reach 100% by 2025 has not been kept everywhere.
Who benefits: Drivers and passengers on intercity trips, especially long-haul lorry drivers, get more places to eat, rest and use a decent toilet. The ranking puts pressure on the administrations of lagging regions, and owners of non-compliant facilities face upgrade costs.
Background: The national standard for roadside service facilities was introduced on 1 July 2015; in March 2023 the Roads Committee planned to raise compliance to 82%, when 1,634 facilities operated along national highways.
List of sources used: Ministry of Transport, Numbers and Power, Kapital.kz
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
