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Ust-Kamenogorsk Mayor Almat Akpanov has identified a critical obstacle to dividing the city into two administrative districts: a lack of precise population statistics. The mayor revealed this challenge during a public accountability meeting with residents.

Population Discrepancy Hinders City Division

Currently, Ust-Kamenogorsk is home to over 400,000 residents. However, official records show a lower figure of 380,000 due to issues with timely resident registration. This phenomenon is described as suburbanization, a trend observed in many global cities.

Benefits of a Two-District Structure

Akpanov explained that if the official population count reaches 400,000, the city could be divided into two districts, similar to the Soviet era when two communal services managed different city areas. He noted that the current administration, with one mayor and three deputies, manages the sprawling city, which stretches 80 kilometers, often leading to operational difficulties.

Efforts to Clarify Population Numbers

To address this, the city administration is actively working to determine the accurate number of residents. "If it exceeds 400,000, we will propose to the higher authorities to divide the city into two districts – the left bank and the right bank," Akpanov stated.

This initiative aims to improve city management and service delivery by creating more localized administrative units.