Tengrinews.kz – Deputies decided to rename the LRT light rail project in Astana at a maslikhat meeting. The elected representatives voted to abandon the English-language name and gave the project a new name.
Details
According to department representatives, several name options were submitted by city residents. Among them were “Sunkar,” “Lashyn,” “Aspan,” “Tarlan” and others.
Following the discussion, deputies supported the option “Tarlan-Astana.”
According to deputy Baurzhan Kasymbergebayev, the name “Tarlan-Astana” was proposed by the onomastic commission.
“This decision was proposed by our city onomastic commission, after which we reviewed several proposals. They were submitted by residents, and today a decision was made to rename the LRT as ‘Tarlan-Astana,’” the deputy said.
According to him, LRT is a technical name for a type of transport, while in many countries light rail systems have their own names that are clearer and more familiar to residents. Astana decided to follow the same approach.
“It was proposed that the LRT in Astana should also be associated this way. Guests and tourists who come here would be able to immediately call it by a beautiful name,” the deputy said.
Asked whether the renaming was connected with a desire to distance the project from its scandalous history, which has lasted for many years, he said that this factor also existed. However, according to him, this was not the main goal.
“But to a greater extent, this is about making the LRT associated with our country and this name for tourists. So, it is more of an image-related matter,” he explained.
The LRT in Astana was launched on May 16. In total, the Astana LRT line will have 18 stations, with routes passing through the city’s main business centers and residential districts. Some stations already have names. A train route map has also appeared.
