The incredible new £61bn mega-city being built in world’s ‘most dangerous country’ | World | News
Afghanistan is often ranked as the most dangerous country in the world, plagued by ongoing conflict, insurgent attacks and political instability. Decades of war have left its infrastructure weakened, while bombings, kidnappings and targeted violence continue to pose daily risks for civilians.
However, an ambitious project is underway in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, one that is set to completely change the lives of its residents. Kabul is set to undergo a dramatic transformation as Afghanistan pushes ahead with a £61 billion project to build a new megacity on the outskirts of its capital. The development, known as Kabul New City (KNC), is designed to ease overcrowding in the current capital while also creating new economic opportunities.
First conceived in 2006 and approved three years later, the plan has gained momentum with recent contracts signed between the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing and private construction firms.
Covering almost 300 square miles northeast of Kabul, KNC is expected to house around three million people once complete. Officials say it will include modern housing, reliable electricity, a full sewage system, paved roads and a clean water supply. The city’s construction is also projected to create around 1.2 million jobs.
Urban planners say KNC will help reduce the strain on Kabul, which has faced years of rapid population growth driven by internal migration and returning refugees. Although earlier efforts stalled, officials insist that the project is now firmly back on track, with the target completion date set for 2040.
A previous Afghan government estimated the cost of this megaproject at an eye-watering £61.2 billion. Most of the funding will come from private investors, with the government contributing about 5%.
The developer of Kabul City said: “Kabul New City is planned to offer a full spectrum of facilities of a modern metropolis and accommodate three million inhabitants, providing a substantial solution to the rapidly growing population’s needs in the capital”.
This is not the only impressive project underway in Afghanistan. The Qosh Tepa Canal is expected to stretch for some 177 miles in the north of the country. It will divert water from the Amu Darya River to convert 550,000 hectares of desert into farmland. The Taliban-run government made the canal a priority project, and construction began in 2022. Under construction in several stages, the first phase was finished in October 2023, with the second nearly 90% complete by December 2024. Estimated to cost $684 million (£508 million), the canal runs the risk of significantly reducing water supply to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
