A landlocked central Asian country is planning to launch a visionary new urban project, designed to house millions of residents and become a hub for innovation and sustainability. Dubbed “New Tashkent”, the development will span 20,000 hectares between the Karasuv and Chirchik rivers in Uzbekistan, with a reported price tag of $30 billion (£22 billion). The ambitious plans were imagined as a “digital twin” city of Uzbekistan’s historic capital, correcting the systematic issues of the existing megacity, including failing infrastructure and pollution.

It was also conceived as a response to overpopulation in “Old Tashkent”, thought to be the most populous city in central Asia, with around 3.1 million residents as of July 2025. Among planned structures of the new metropolis are the Tashkent Twin City Towers, a complex that could reach 575-metres, making it one of the world’s tallest buildings if completed.

The “digital twin” city master plan is centred around creating “a resilient and future-proofed urban framework”, according to Parametric Architecture, “utilising natural mountain airflows and local hydrology to mitigate urban heat islands”.

The development will ease pressure on the original economic hub by moving administrative and cultural sites to the new territory, reports suggest.

Design will also prioritise a “15-minute city” model”, enabling all citizens to reach essential social infrastructure including schools, healthcare and retail sites within a quarter of an hour.

“The New Tashkent is managed through a digital twin technology, a real-time data-driven virtual replica of the city”, Parametric Architecture says. “Developed by [UK firm] Cross Works, it integrates 2D and 3D urban analyses, geolocated renders and advanced forecasting tools.”

The timeline for construction of the new urban area extends to 2045, with the first phase – known as District 1 – focused on its social and administrative core.

Visual mock-ups of the ambitious development paint a suitably futuristic picture – with geometric arches and curves designed to combine traditional Islamic and Timurid architecture with a functional means of natural ventilation.

The project has not been without its detractors, however – including those worried about water scarcity caused by the rapid population increase and whether existing energy and sewage infrastructure will be capable of supporting a huge expansion in the short term.

While Uzbekistan has historically been off the average Westerner’s radar, largely due to its remote location, tourist numbers have spiked in recent years – with international arrivals up 73% on pre-pandemic levels in 2025, according to the World Tourism Organisation.

At the beginning of 2025, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev set the goal of attracting 10 million visitors by the end of the year, a target that was surpassed in October thanks to “the Uzbekistan 2030 development strategy”, which includes “a visa-free regime for citizens of nearly 100 countries”, according to its Tourism Committee.