White City Ashgabat 2026

«The Future of Ashgabat: CAI Interbudmontazh Presented Innovative Underground Construction Technologies at the «White City Ashgabat 2026» Exhibition

 

On 24–25 May, the 25th International Exhibition and Conference «White City Ashgabat 2026», dedicated to architecture, innovation and sustainable urban development, was held in Ashgabat. The event took place in a landmark year — the 145th anniversary of the capital of Turkmenistan and the 35th anniversary of the state’s Independence. The company CAI Interbudmontazh, which has been operating in Turkmenistan since 2002, was one of the key participants, presenting comprehensive solutions for the renewal of urban underground infrastructure with minimal impact on the life of the metropolis.

The «White City Ashgabat 2026» Exhibition: scale and significance

 

Representatives of city authorities, founders of major companies, leading experts, specialists and architects from various countries took part in the anniversary event. The theme of the exhibition — «Architecture. Innovations. Sustainable Development» — fully corresponds to the strategic development goals of Turkmenistan.

The business programme addressed:

• modern approaches to urban planning;
• the use of modern construction technologies;
• the development of environmentally friendly urban transport in a growing metropolis;
• the adaptation of cities to climate change;
• the use of digital solutions for managing the urban environment.

CAI Interbudmontazh: a quarter of a century in Turkmenistan

 

The company CAI Interbudmontazh came to Turkmenistan in 2002 and over a quarter of a century has become an important part of the capital’s development. During this time, large-scale engineering projects and underground infrastructure projects have been implemented, creating the sustainable infrastructure of Ashgabat.

Over 30 years of operation, the company has delivered more than 150 projects in the CIS countries, Asia and Africa, including:

• 65 km. of completed tunnels;
• 9 metro stations built and put into operation;
• 30 km. of metro and railway tracks;
• 200 km. of roads;
• 100 projects of civil and industrial infrastructure.

Innovative solutions for Ashgabat

 

At the exhibition, CAI Interbudmontazh focused on three strategic directions for the development of the capital.

 Underground infrastructure: the invisible foundation of the city

When people talk about a sustainable city, they usually picture beautiful facades, wide avenues and green parks.

All of this is possible thanks to what lies underground!

Underground utility networks are the circulatory system of the city: water supply, wastewater disposal, drainage and cable ducts. Their uninterrupted operation is the key to a comfortable life for citizens. Equally important is the role of the utility services that ensure the functioning of this hidden infrastructure.

Renewing utility networks is a necessity for the development of the city. The only question is how to do it without stopping its life.

Trenchless construction technologies

Existing solutions make it possible to lay or renew underground utilities without opening the surface. CAI Interbudmontazh presented three methods:

• Tunnel boring machine (TBM);
• Microtunneling;
• Horizontal directional drilling (HDD)

Trenchless construction technologies are an important part of renewing the city’s underground infrastructure!

Building the metro in Ashgabat: why now?

 

The population of Ashgabat already exceeds 1 million people, and managing surface transport is becoming increasingly difficult. There is a solution — the metro!

From the start of design to the launch of the first line, a minimum of 8–10 years is required. If we start today, by 2035 the city will receive a new transport system.

Advantages of the metro over other types of urban transport:

• The metro uses urban space 30 times more efficiently than a car and 6 times more efficiently than an urban bus;
• 9 times fewer carbon dioxide emissions per 1 kilometre of travel compared with a private car;
• 20 times more economical in energy consumption per passenger;
• 70 times higher capacity compared with a car;
• Travel time is reduced by 2 times compared with other types of urban transport.

Studies by the World Bank show that access to a quality transport system directly influences the growth of a city’s GDP.

The metro is an infrastructure asset that works for the country’s economy for 50–80 years after being put into operation.

Today the metro operates in 65 countries and more than two hundred cities, comprising 17 000 stations and 25 000 kilometres of lines.

Of these, 15 countries and 34 cities with high seismicity, where 3 000 stations and 5 000 kilometres of lines are in operation.

Studies have been carried out and calculations made on the feasibility of building a metro in Ashgabat:

This work was performed by:

• Austrian company «D2»
• Japanese company «Oriental»
• American company «FME Engineering»

International companies were involved in preparing the feasibility study for the construction of the metro:

• Japan Metro Association
• Japanese company «Sumitomo»
• Japanese company «Hitachi»

Their conclusion: building a metro in Ashgabat is safe and technically feasible when modern-generation reinforced concrete structures are used.

The route of the future line will connect Ashgabat — Arkadag — Gökdepe — Annau, uniting these cities into a single living organism. Every citizen will be able to have equal access to the opportunities of the capital.

Ashgabat on the path to sustainable development

CAI Interbudmontazh’s participation in the «White City Ashgabat 2026» exhibition emphasised the company’s readiness to continue contributing to the sustainable development of Ashgabat and the whole of Turkmenistan.