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The Master Plan - Strategic Plan

Location

The Kabul New City, approximately 1.5 times larger than the existing Kabul City, is strategically placed between Bagram Airbase and Kabul International Airport. It is mainly located in the province of Kabul and occupies a small area from Parwan province. The site is surrounded by Khwaja Rawash, Safi and Marko Mountains.
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The Kabul New City includes Dehsabz District, and some villages of Shakardara, Mirbachakot, Qarabagh and Kalakan Districts. The District of Barikab to the immediate north of Dehsabz, forms the Agricultural Economic Zone of the New City.

Rational

Current population of Kabul is estimated to be well above four million people. It is estimated that Kabul population will rise to eight million people by 2025. According to a comprehensive water study by JICA team, existing underground water availability in Kabul city is to the tune of 166 million cubic meters per year which suffices for only five million people with an average of 90 liters per person per day(instead of international standard of 120-150 liters per person per day). Therefore, it is crucial to cater the water needs of the extra three million people through other means. The site for the new city can take a maximum of three million people and utilizes the water of a different basin, namely Sayaad Fan Aquifer.

Other major problems resulting from rapid population growth includes very high unemployment rate, housing crisis, and lack of proper infrastructure and pollution of all sorts. The New City project generates hundreds of thousands of skilled and unskilled jobs on temporary and permanent basis, provides around 250,000 housing units, improves the infrastructure of greater Kabul and lessens pollution through eco-system measures. It also plays an important role in keeping a stable economic growth in the country.

The project, therefore, is the biggest development initiative of Afghanistan which enjoys the full support of Afghan Government, Parliament, private sector and civil society.

Without this project, the current problems facing Kabul will only worsen. Living conditions will deteriorate beyond the tolerance level. With inadequate and unplanned urban infrastructure and social services, informal housing areas will spread. Serious traffic congestion, high crime, unsanitary conditions, and acute water shortages will plague all the citizens who live and work in Kabul.


Role of Stakeholders

While the main implementing agency of land and primary/secondary infrastructure development for the New City is DCDA, the private sector and national/foreign investors will engage in development of tertiary infrastructure, urban development with housing and building construction through leases, sales and PPP (Public Private Partnership) arrangements.

The DCDA is established to create a pro-business environment with legislation favorable to private investors. As a single regulatory and management authority, it supervises the project, and facilitates the land clearance process, and builds the basic infrastructure of the city. Private investors, interested in the development of different parts of the city through competitive means, will only deal with DCDA as a one-stop shop.

According to the Master Plan, Private Sector shares around 70% financial needs of the New City Development. Also investment from the Afghan Government and Donors will be channeled through private sector contractors in different sectors such as roads, power, water etc....

Development Process

The stage one of Master Plan shall be implemented upon cleared land and certain other conditions in the following three phases over 15 years:
Phase-I: 2010-2015
Phase-II: 2016-2020
Phase-III: 2021-2025

 KNC Implementation Periods

 The priority projects of Phase 1 include:

  1. Development of approximately 80,000 housing units to accommodate 400,000 people in Dehsabz South. The urban structure plan for this phase is already complete. Within the Phase-I area, the procurement and negotiation process for the development of Parcels 1 & 2, accommodating a total of about 58’000 housing units with some commercial, light-industrial and public facilities was launched in early 2012.
  2. Development of One-Third area of Barikab Agricultural Economic Zone, which covers approximately 33 km².
  3. Development of Main Infrastructure to the entire New City, including water, electricity and transportation.
  4. Preservation of existing villages within Kabul New City Master Plan area, development of Central Park, Greenbelt and other supportive projects.
  5. Planning & Design of Phases II and Phase III.
  6. Development of Industrial Parks
  7. Development of parcels on governmental lands

The implementation of the above projects is expected to take place mostly through competitive tendering and contracting in conformity with the applicable Laws of Afghanistan and International regulations. Bidders are expected to submit their proposals in compliance with DCDA’s legislation, approved master plan, Phase 1 Structure Plan, Phase 1 Concept Developmental Plan, Urban Development Guidelines and Interim Building Code.