Episode 24: Ulaanbaatar at a Crossroads: $1 Billion Highway to decrease traffic, but it might destroy city's last river

Ulaanbaatar's mayor wants to build a $1 billion highway along the Tuul River—the city's last remaining river and the primary source of water for 1.7 million people. The mayor contends that the project is essential to alleviate Ulaanbaatar's congestion issues, and he has thoroughly evaluated all environmental risks. But experts can't get the data for the project. Where are the environmental impact assessments? Why wasn't the public consulted before approving the project?

In this episode, we sit down with urban governance expert and civil engineer Anu-Ujin Lkhagvasuren, who has spent five years working with the municipality and the World Bank on Ulaanbaatar's transportation challenges. She breaks down why building more roads has never solved traffic congestion anywhere in the world, why the mayor's own numbers don't add up, and what she believes is really driving 24 simultaneous mega-projects in a city that can barely keep its lights on. We also get into Belt and Road debt traps, forged signatures on environmental documents, and whether the #SaveTuul movement can win.

Pocketcast | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

52min

Hosts: Anand, Dolgion

Guest: Anu-Ujin Lkhagvasuren

Date Recorded: April 2 2026

Date Released: April 4 2026

Keywords: urban planning | corruption | Ulaanbaatar