by B.Nyamsuren

“Zuunii Medee” newspaper invites leaders and innovators from various fields to its “Leaderships Forum” section to discuss Mongolia’s development paths and opportunities, sharing their creative ideas and solutions with readers. This time, we invited Member of Parliament Luvsanjamts.G, to introduce the “20-Minute city”, the concept he has initiated, and to share his views on addressing key urban challenges such as congestion and decentralization.

A proper population density is 460 people per hectare, yet some khoroos exceed 2000.

Even though the 20-Minute City is not a new concept for us, most people do not understand what it actually means is and some even criticize it. Simply put, it is the principle of a citizen-centered, safe, and pleasant urban environment. 
The “micro districts” built by the former Soviets, such as the 1st, 3rd, and 4th districts, Sansar, and 120 Myangat, all followed the 20-Minute City model: kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and service centers were within walking distance, and bus stops were nearby. What we aim to do now is revive that system.
After transitioning to a market economy, land distribution became unregulated, leading to schools without sufficient space, overloaded classrooms, and even three teaching shifts per day. This must change. To do that, we need unified, results-based urban planning — not separate plans for electricity, water, heating, and so on. A true integrated city plan must combine all these elements and include citizen input.
We must build cities with proper density and a human-centered design. Internationally, a reasonable urban density is around 460 people per hectare. But in some Mongolian khoroos, that number exceeds 2000, creating poor and unsustainable living conditions. While the standard exists in our building codes, enforcement is weak as officials simply overlook violations. Going forward, urban plans must adhere to this 460-person-per-hectare principle.

The Capital’s Master Plan extends until 2040

For 16 years, the government repeatedly promised to redevelop ger areas but failed to deliver — demolishing homes without providing new housing or infrastructure. This must end. Future projects must focus on restoring the rights of affected residents.
Ulaanbaatar’s development master plan envisions establishing sub-centers in Tolgoit, Selbe, Bayankhoshuu, Amgalan, and Dambadarjaa. Infrastructure expansion toward these sub-centers will begin soon, in coordination with the city administration.
The city’s development plan is divided into preparation, implementation, and stabilization phases and will continue through 2040. Nationally, there are discussions about forming 14 cities and 14 districts to improve state productivity. Since 87% of services previously provided at khoroo offices are now available online through E-Mongolia, a large staff is no longer necessary. Thus, khoroo offices can be transformed into community centers, while essential services remain accessible both digitally and at nearby sub-centers.

Human-centered urban design

The 20-Minute City framework focuses on eight core goals. The foundation of a well-planned city is its focus on building around educational institutions, which Mongolia has neglected over the past 20–30 years. The best school is the one near home - safe and easily accessible. Therefore, we prioritize building the elementary and middle schools based on the population density.
In education, accessibility and the quality are the main concerns. Urban-planners are responsible for ensuring that schools are easily accessible. Ideally, schools should be located within neighborhoods and have no more than 30 students per class. However, the current situation of 50 students per class and three shifts in a day is unacceptable. 
Schools and kindergartens should be built based on local population density, with no more than 30 students per class and single-shift schedules. 
When we talk about education, it is mainly about intellectual development. However, physical and emotional education are just as important as intellectual development. Physical wellbeing depends on parks and green spaces, while emotional wellbeing grows through community interaction through community centers, for example, when children and elders have a safe space to share and connect, they will develop emotionally.
The second priority in urban planning is healthcare. Family clinics and pharmacies should be within a 20-minute walk, allowing seniors to easily monitor their health and access medicines nearby.
The third is green spaces and parks — essential for children’s development and community wellbeing. Land departments must stop allocating plots arbitrarily and instead ensure parks and recreation zones are preserved in master plans.
The fifth (after housing and education) is establishing community centers where residents can meet, discuss local needs, and propose solutions. Currently, khoroo offices are not conducive to dialogue. Community centers should change that by providing open, comfortable spaces for citizen engagement.
Previously, when it came to family health clinics, the Ministry of Health was in charge; schools and kindergartens were under the Ministry of Education; and sports facilities belonged to the Ministry of Culture and Sports, which means everything was separate. Instead of scattering buildings across locations, we can build multi-service complexes combining these functions under one roof. Selbe sub-center is the first to pilot this model to build this community center, with 150 hectares already cleared and development underway.
The sixth priority is public transport connectivity. Some khoroos, such as Bayanzurkh’s 20th and 41st, do not have any bus stops children to walk up to 5 km to the bus stop. This can be changed through integrated transit planning and better accessibility.
The seventh and eighth goals involve private sector participation — ensuring local retail and service businesses (e.g., CU, GS25, grocery stores) remain close to residents.

The state cannot build cities alone-partnership with the private sector is key

Countries like the U.S., France, Norway, and Vietnam require that 20% of housing in new developments be affordable. Mongolia must also adopt such inclusive housing policies — ensuring diverse housing types and sufficient rental units.
In order to ensure transparency and public participation, plans must not be approved unless two rounds of public consultations are held:
1. The first to collect citizen input,
2. The second to present revised plans based on that input.
The private sector’s role must also increase. The government should cover only 10–20% of total investment (mainly infrastructure), while private partners lead development — creating jobs, growing the economy, and expanding incomes.
Urban design must also incorporate universal design principles — accessible ramps for people with disabilities, nursing rooms for mothers, etc. Although such standards exist, they are rarely enforced. For example, ramps should have a 1:10 slope (10 meters for every 1-meter rise), but in practice, many are dangerously steep — yet still approved.

Car owners’ interests come last

In modern urban planning, the hierarchy of road users is clear:
1. Pedestrians,
2. Cyclists and scooter riders,
3. Public transport,
4. Private cars — last.
Only by following this order can we ensure safe, walkable streets. Calls to “expand roads” or “build more parking” should not be supported — prioritizing cars undermines livability.
In many countries, the interests of car owners are considered the lowest priority as it is a common international practice. This framework is feasible to Ulaanbaatar, satellite towns, and regional centers, but not necessarily small soums and or areas with small populations.
Each year, The Economist ranks the world’s most livable cities using the EIU methodology. Unfortunately, Ulaanbaatar has been using its own “City Competitiveness Index,” effectively grading itself — which is misleading. Going forward, Mongolia’s capital must measure itself against international urban livability standards to genuinely improve.

Source: Zuuniimedee newspaper 2025.11.07 № 211 (7708), Friday.