He noted that once the project is completed, passengers will be able to travel by train from the north to the south of the country and vice versa. Freight will also be transported by rail, which will reduce logistics costs.

«We can complete the railway to Makmal using our own resources by 2035–2037, which means it would take another 10 years to build. If we attract investment, it will be faster, and we could complete it by 2032–2035. The construction requires significant funding, around $1 billion. It would be good to complete the railway to Makmal by the time the China—Kyrgyzstan—Uzbekistan railway is commissioned, at least by 2032. We are working on this now. If we find investors, we will accelerate the construction. If not, we will gradually build it using our own resources,» the president said.

He added that completing the railway to Kara-Keche using domestic resources would not be difficult, but the section beyond that is more challenging, requiring the construction of bridges and tunnels.

«Most of the funds are spent on tunnels. Bridges do not require as much money, while construction along a straight route is even cheaper. For example, we built one kilometer of straight railway for $955,000, although when we announced the tender, bidders offered to build a kilometer for $5–6 million. In the end, we decided to build it ourselves and constructed 64 kilometers for $64 million (Balykchy—Kochkor railway),» Sadyr Japarov said.

The head of state also spoke about the launch of China—Kyrgyzstan—Uzbekistan railway project, stressing that the railway is needed primarily by Kyrgyzstan.

«This is not simply a railway; it could be called an updated Silk Road. But some bloggers and individual citizens oppose the project under the influence of external forces and receive money for it. This railway is needed not by China, Uzbekistan or Europe, but specifically by Kyrgyzstan, so that we do not remain a dead-end country. This railway could become a second Kumtor for us; we could earn around $400–500 million a year from transit alone,» the president said.