Since the mid-2000s, there is a CIS intergovernmental body that unites the representatives of the infrastructure sphere (i.e., road workers), who discuss the common projects and initiatives. In particular, they conduct motor rallies to attract attention to the Central Asian transport corridor as a prospective route for international transportation. This annual event brings together professionals from the road industry from different countries, as well as representatives of state authorities. Today, we invite you to discuss the idea and benefits of such an event.
What Is Auto Rally, and How Is It Organized?
The auto rally is a competition that provides moving from point A to point B on the discussed route for the specified period. Modern rallies are divided into amateur and sports ones. There are also rally-raids and marathons, but they are rather a mixture of these varieties than independent types of a rally.
The amateur rally can be attended by anyone from the professionals to the newbies. The only condition is the presence of a driver’s license and a car that meets the requirements of traffic regulations. Before the start of such rallies, the crews are given a legend, which is a stenographic description of the route with the indication of time control points and other parameters.
There are marked landmarks and the distance between them in the legend, that allow athletes not to get lost on the road. In addition to the legend, athletes receive a route list, which lists the time standards for moving from one place to another. As a rule, the whole route is divided into several segments, which begin and end in the primarily defined locations.
What Is the Purpose of the Motor Rally in Central Asia?
The history of motor rallies organized by the Intergovernmental Council of Road Workers began with the route “Brest-Khorgos”, within the international transport corridor “Western Europe — Western China”. It continued a year later from Khorgos, through Almaty, Bishkek to Tursunzade, in the direction of the “Silk Road”. A year later, a new route was laid, from Moscow to Bukhara. It took place along the roads under construction in different countries, so its participants were able to do the following:
- See and evaluate the pace of construction work in the most difficult mountain conditions;
- Get acquainted with the applied technologies;
- Provide recommendations for the further development of international transport routes;
- Exchange their experience and best practices with colleagues.
The motor rally in Central Asia takes place on the mountain roads of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. The total length of the route is 2206 km. The idea was supported by the CIS Executive Committee, International Academy of Transport, International Association of Trade Unions of Road Transport and Road Facilities, International Road Transport Union, and other well-known organizations and authorities.
Key Objectives of the Rally
Among the key objectives of the international motor rally in Central Asia were the following:
- Monitoring this transport corridor for the presence of administrative barriers in international road transportation;
- Inspect the road conditions and bottlenecks on the international road route, as well as the state of auxiliary infrastructure, including border checkpoints of neighboring CIS member states;
- Organizing meetings with the authorities of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan to discuss problems of the road industry, including issues related to the state and development of international highways in the CIS;
- Collection of information for the use of the Intergovernmental Council of Road Workers and other international organizations to improve the condition and development of international highways;
- Holding international conferences in the cities of Almaty, Bishkek, Dushanbe;
- Preparation of specific proposals for improving the condition of international highways in the countries of Central Asia, members of the CIS.
A wide public resonance following the results of the international motor rally should draw the attention of national governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and business communities to the problems of the development of highways and transportation, crossing state borders, and suggest ways to solve them.
In Conclusion
The organization of international motor rallies is a nice way to connect people of different origins and backgrounds to solve common challenges. It can be an effective tool for defining the problems of the road infrastructure or demonstrating the potential of a new route for the interested parties. Nowadays, many infrastructure projects are under the threat of underfinancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so such events put the focus on the future of international trade and passenger transportation.
Besides, motor rallies proved to be effective instruments in the decision-making by authorities. Except for the public resonance and potential economic benefit, it is really fun to pass many kilometers on the road, enjoying the exotic nature and unusual views from the window. Perhaps, all this makes motor rallies in Central Asia a popular event for foreigners.
