Akimat Explains Why New Paving Stones Are Being Removed And Given To Private Owners

Officials say the pavers are worn out and claim that the dismantled material was donated to a family in need, Orda.kz reports.

The Medeu District Akimat of Almaty responded to the controversy over the dismantling of paving stones on Ualikhanov Street. A day earlier, public activist Sanzhar Bokayev accused officials of removing almost-new paving stones and taking them to private sites under the guise of landscaping.

District akim Yerkebulan Orazalin confirmed that the pavers on the stretch between Shevchenko and Kazybek Bi streets are indeed being replaced. He argued that the old material had been in use for more than 20 years and was technically outdated, with visible damage in certain areas.

The project also includes the installation of new lamps, fences, and architectural elements. The total cost is 296 million tenge. Roughly the same amount will be spent on similar work on Qarasay Batyr Street.

The paving stones on the boulevard were laid in 2004 and served for almost 21 years. Last year we tried to partially replace them, but the right sample was not found. The color, shape, and chamfer were different. Therefore, it was impossible to preserve the pavement through partial replacement. In addition, the design itself was outdated, so the Akimat decided to replace the paving stones entirely, Orazalin explained.

According to the contract, dismantled paving stones are subject to disposal.

However, officials said it seemed wasteful to destroy them. As a result, 90 square meters were transferred to what they described as a “family in need,” with the contractors’ consent. The rest of the material, they added, is stored at the company’s base for reuse in future projects.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov