page_title: Almaty Metro
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Almaty Metro / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Construction lot of Abay Station, Almaty Metro Русский: Стройплощадка ст. Абая Алматинского метро
context_page_description: Almaty Metro is a rapid transit/metro system in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The first line of the system was opened on 1 December 2011, after more than 23 years of construction. A 2.9-kilometre, two-station extension of the Metro to Moskva station opened on 18 April 2015.
context_section_description: Construction of the Almaty Metro began on 7 September 1988 when Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union. However, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, funds from Moscow dried up and the new Kazakhstani government was unable to continue construction. Efforts to preserve the already-completed work were made, but the high cost led to the accumulation of large debts to construction workers.
  In 2003, the government of Kazakhstan laid out a new development initiative which included government funds for continued construction on the metro. During the Metro's construction the Almaty tram network was wound down and most its routes closed by 2010.
caption: Construction of Abay Station, September 2007
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