AGGLOMERATION REPRESENTS A CORE FOUNDATION OF MODERN URBAN SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

Agglomeration studies have become increasingly important in addressing contemporary urban challenges such as uncontrolled spatial expansion, infrastructure congestion, depletion of resources, rising living costs, and the degradation of the urban environment. An agglomeration can be defined as a compact cluster of settlements integrated into a complex system with intensive industrial activity, transport networks, and communication infrastructure. Today, these issues represent a priority area of territorial policy both in Uzbekistan and globally. The rapidly developing Karshi agglomeration is no exception, as urbanization processes require the identification of the most rational pathways for its territorial growth. The purpose of this study is to justify the selection of potential areas for the future development of the Karshi agglomeration. To achieve this objective, the study analyzes local and international experience in urban system development, examines the provisions of the Karshi Master Plan and the Karshi agglomeration development concept, conducts a retrospective assessment of Karshi as an agglomeration core, develops long-term forecasts based on historical dynamics, identifies key development constraints, and provides recommendations for improving territorial planning documents.