Astana to spend $4.8 million on Botanic Garden

Kazakhstan has allocated 750 million tenge ($4.8 million) from the national budget to construct a botanic garden in Astana, Tengrinews reports referring to the Akimat (city administration) of Astana. The new botanic garden will be located between Kabanbay Batyr Av., Turkestan Str., № 24 Str. and №26 Str at the Left Bank of the Ishim River. It is going to take up the area of almost one square kilometer (975 thousand square meters). Various buildings and facilities will take up the space of 47 thousand sq meters, water channels will be built at 51 thousand sq meters, 235 thousand sq meters will be covered in roads and footpaths and the remaining 642 thousand sq meters will be planted with trees and other vegetation. According to the Akimat, the feasibility study of the first phase of the project has already been completed. The government is currently holding a tender to hire contractors for the first phase. The construction is expected to be completed in 2016. By Altynai Zhumzhumina