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Forget aesthetic coffee shops: Gen Z shows what a “romantic” walk through Almaty looks like
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan /Energy & Infrastructure

Forget aesthetic coffee shops: Gen Z shows what a “romantic” walk through Almaty looks like

From Tengrinews · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Official statement Ongoing story
  • Videos by young Almaty residents humorously show pedestrians navigating construction zones, damaged paths and detours across the city.
  • Online commenters are divided between those who see the repairs as necessary and those who complain that work sites often remain idle.
  • The city administration says medium-scale repairs will cover about 340 streets and 250 kilometers in 2026, with sections of 15 major roads already renovated by Sept. 1.

For Almaty's young residents, a romantic city walk currently comes with detours, construction barriers and a serious risk of ruining a pair of shoes.

The inconvenience is temporary, but the benefits are forever

— Social media commenterA commenter defended the city's construction work despite the disruption.

Videos circulating on social media show pedestrians trying to get around road and sidewalk repairs. In some areas, people must walk along the edge of the road. In others, they have to cross the street, while sometimes the easiest option is simply to turn around and begin again.

The clips portray an ordinary stroll as an obstacle course: find a passage, avoid the mud or broken surface, and work out where the route ends. Commenters have responded in two opposing camps. Some say the repairs are needed and residents should give the city time. Others complain that construction sites often stand idle for days without visible progress.

They are fixing roads, pipes, and sewage, that's a good thing. But walking right now is certainly uncomfortable

— Social media commenterA commenter acknowledged the repairs' purpose while criticizing the current walking conditions.

Users described the inconvenience as temporary but said walking was currently uncomfortable. Others joked that the city was assigning pedestrians a new challenge every day, with one commenter saying they had already destroyed all their sneakers.

They dig everything up, and then there are no workers to be seen for days and nights

— Social media commenterA commenter complained about inactive construction sites.

The city administration says the disruption accompanies a large repair program. Medium-scale work is planned for about 340 streets covering 250 kilometers in 2026. By Sept. 1, sections of 15 major thoroughfares totaling 32 kilometers had been renovated, including Zenkov, Zhamakayev, Zhetysu, Shemyakin, Mambetov, Ryskulbekov, Zhankozha Batyr, Iskendirov, Akan Sery, Manas, Gabdullin, Zhandosov, Tsentralnaya and Ushkempirov streets, as well as the Kuldja Highway.

I've already trashed all my sneakers

— Social media commenterA commenter joked about the effect of the damaged routes on pedestrians' shoes.
About this summary

Originally published by Tengrinews in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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