Ust-Kamenogorsk Aims for Two Districts Upon Reaching 400,000 Population

The mayor of Ust-Kamenogorsk, Almat Akyshov, has stated that the city's division into two administrative districts hinges on officially confirming a population exceeding 400,000 residents. The current official statistics fall short of this mark, despite estimates suggesting the actual number is higher.

During a public meeting, Akyshov explained that while over 400,000 people are believed to live in the city, official records show only about 380,000. This discrepancy is attributed to many residents not formally registering their place of residence—a phenomenon common in cities worldwide.

"If we officially reached the threshold of 400,000, the city could be divided into two districts, as it was in Soviet times," said Akyshov. "Then the development of urban territories would be handled by two separate municipal services."

The mayor emphasized that managing the entire city, which stretches for 80 kilometers, with a single mayor's office and three deputies is often challenging. He announced plans to clarify the real population figures.

"We will now carry out this work—specifying the actual population count. If it turns out to be more than 400,000, we will propose to higher leadership to divide the city into two districts: left-bank and right-bank," Akyshov concluded.