Following the start of dismantling old bus stops with retail points in Tashkent, new pavilions are gradually being erected in their place. However, during the summer period, the topic of stops has resurfaced on social media, as users noticed that the former structures have been removed, but the new ones have not yet been installed everywhere or put into operation.
On July 21, the Tashkent Mayor's Office organized a familiarization tour for journalists to recently installed bus stops. Participants inspected pavilions near Dream Park and the Friendship of Peoples Palace of Arts, as well as stops with retail facilities on Lutfi Street, located near the Aktepinsky Ring Road.
Representatives of the Mayor's Office and the investing company provided information about the contractor selection process, the conditions for stop placement, their cost, and the commissioning deadlines. Correspondent Mirolim Isajonov of 'Gazeta' spoke with responsible persons and specialized experts.
Olloyor Norbutaev, Head of the Road Traffic Organization Center Department at the Tashkent Mayor's Office, reported that investors for the construction of new stops were selected through an open electronic auction conducted in two stages. Initially, 36 stops were put up for an experiment involving three entrepreneurs.
In the second stage, 230 commercial and 230 social stops were auctioned, totaling 460 objects. Two entrepreneurs participated in this round, and the company EWI Snacks was the winner. Norbutaev emphasized that the company fully met the auction requirements and offered the most favorable commercial proposal.
He specified that the procedure for transferring stops to entrepreneurs via an electronic auction eliminates human error, as the listed objects are based on state standards and requirements established by Presidential Decree PP-110. Information about participants remains invisible until the winner is determined, after which the contract is concluded automatically.
Gulnoza Kosimova, Head of the Information Service of the Tashkent Mayor's Office, added that information about the winner, LLC EWI Snacks, is publicly available and published on the E-auksion platform, as well as on the official pages of the Road Traffic Organization Center. Nevertheless, 'Gazeta' failed to find this information on the TODD page on Telegram.
The Road Traffic Organization Center monitors the fulfillment of contractual obligations by the entrepreneur. Furthermore, the process is regularly audited by the Competition Development Committee and the Anti-Corruption Agency.
Jahongir Abdurakhmonov, head of EWI Snacks, who is involved in building the stops, told journalists about the project details. The company participated in the open auction of the Tashkent Mayor's Office in February 2026 and received the right to 230 stops, whose annual rent is 1.3 billion soms.
The company's main task is to arrange the acquired stops of the new type at its own expense according to the standard design and approved concept, and then manage them. Investments are planned to be recouped through providing advertising services and installing self-service vending machines.
EWI Snacks committed to building the stops according to the approved standard design, putting them into operation, and covering all maintenance costs, including maintaining order, cleanliness, emptying bins, and washing. The company also takes responsibility for repairs in case of vandalism. Additionally, the company independently lays communications, provides internet and electricity for electronic displays showing bus schedules.
Regarding claims of a cost of $20–25 thousand per stop, Abdurakhmonov considers this figure inflated, as the construction and installation works were carried out at prices acceptable to the company. He noted that in addition to construction, significant costs are required for connecting communication networks, as well as for maintenance, which was previously covered by the budget but is now entirely the investor's responsibility. The average monthly maintenance cost for one stop is 2.5–3 million soms, while the average construction cost for one stop is estimated at 140 million soms.
The city mayor's office does not provide funding; it only monitors compliance with deadlines and adherence to the approved project. All expenses related to participation in the auction, rent, and other payments are transferred by the company to the local budget.
According to the auction terms, the company gained the right to build and operate 230 stops and also took on the additional obligation to construct 230 social stops on the outskirts and within mahallas. The total deadline for commissioning all 460 objects is set for the end of 2026.
Norbutaev explained that the delay is related to the initial stage—developing an individual project for each stop and establishing a unified system. Construction work only began in April after the completion of document processing and design in March.
Social stops will be built based on residents' requests in places where there were no stops before or where outdated models remained. They will be simpler externally, without advertising structures, and may be smaller (for example, a four-meter version), but they will retain essential elements such as seating and a platform.
The average construction cost for one social stop is about 50–60 million soms. The project concept is based on an approved standard plan with an emphasis on supporting local producers, for example, metal structures and seating are manufactured in Tashkent.
When studying international experience similar to the local climate and passenger flow, it was noted that despite the presence of air-conditioned stops in cities like Dubai, Moscow, and Almaty, most of them forgo this solution. Experts believe that due to the short waiting time for passengers and the need for free access for boarding/alighting, open structures are more convenient.
Regarding cadastral documents, they are processed before the start of the auction and remain under the balance of the mayor's office, and the company uses the objects only based on the lease right.
The Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan reported that none of the 120 bus stops scheduled for handover during May-June have received an official acceptance certificate in Tashkent.
The agency conducted an inspection of the process of modernizing bus stops in the capital, which caused significant public resonance. According to presidential decrees PP-111 and PP-368, it was planned to bring 1785 stops in Tashkent into compliance with established standards (1185 by 2026 and 600 by 2027). To achieve this goal, the stops, land plots, and the structures themselves were supposed to be listed on the E-auksion electronic platform with leasing options.
The financing for the reconstruction of existing stops and the installation of new standard stops was supposed to be covered by the winners of the auctions from their own funds. According to the agency, in tenders held in 2025–2026, the company Ewi Snacks won bids for land plots where 266 stops are located, as well as for the construction of another 230 social stops, after which the relevant lease agreements were signed.
According to the approved schedule, 120 objects were supposed to be handed over in May-June 2026—60 leased and 60 social. However, the inspection revealed that construction and installation works remained unfinished at many of these stops, and the necessary equipment was not fully installed. Moreover, no acceptance certificate was issued for any of the 120 objects.
The Anti-Corruption Agency appealed to the Tashkent Khokimiyat, demanding timely and full fulfillment of all contractual obligations, and strengthening supervision to ensure that the stop equipment meets the approved technical requirements and is commissioned. Furthermore, the agency recommended that future auctions divide stops into smaller lots by district or other territorial units, which, in the agency's opinion, will increase competition and attract more entrepreneurs. Responsible officials were also instructed to regularly inform the public about the progress of these projects.
At the same time, local government representatives presented a different picture. Olloyor Norbutaev, Head of the Public Transport Prioritization Department of the Road Traffic Organization Center, told Qalampir.uz that more than 250 stops have already been replaced with modern structures in Tashkent and have been put into operation. He specified that the equipping is done in stages, and approximately 50 of them have electronic displays showing bus arrival times. It is planned that about a thousand stops will be modernized by the end of the current year.
Norbutaev explained that the essential elements required for accepting a stop include a pavilion, a bench, a trash can, and a special boarding area. The facilities must also include ramps and tactile paving for people with disabilities. When asked about the lack of air conditioners, fans, cameras, Wi-Fi, and electronic displays, the COTD representative replied that the authorities do not intend to create enclosed stops, as the main task is to ensure convenient boarding and disembarking, not prolonged passenger stay.
Regarding the fleet renewal, Norbutaev noted that reducing intervals should be achieved through bus renewal: 200 electric buses were purchased last year, and another 200 are planned to be purchased by the end of the year. When journalists pointed out damaged glass and passenger complaints about the heat, the COTD representative stated that he only knew of one case of broken glass on Makhtumkuli Street, which was replaced the next day. He also noted that the constructed stop, which previously occupied the site of a retail outlet, has an increased area, and the shade from it depends on the time of day.
Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov commented on the demolition of shops from bus stops in an interview with Kun.uz, emphasizing that stops must comply with standards and primarily fulfill a public function. He reported that about 2500 stops are currently operating in the capital, and the number is planned to be increased to 3500 in the future, although more than a thousand existing facilities do not meet modern requirements.
Umurzakov stated that placing retail points on stops creates obstacles to traffic movement, leads to increased waste, and causes inconvenience to passengers. New stops will be built according to international standards and equipped with safety buttons, internet, and traffic information, and may also have vending machines. The cost of such a stop is estimated at $10–20 thousand, and the project is implemented through public-private partnerships. Alternative trading places are offered to entrepreneurs whose shops were demolished.
Earlier, in March, the COTD announced a 90-day program to update infrastructure, the first stage of which planned to improve 380 stops on the busiest streets. Among them, 120 were combined with shops, half of which had illegal extensions. Authorities explained the demolition of shops as a necessity to free up space for passengers and create an inclusive environment, and they were also conducting an inventory of stops that had long been under the balance of 12 different organizations for transfer to the COTD's management.
Residents of Tashkent have once again raised the issue of modern bus stops, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of adequate protection from strong solar radiation amid abnormally high temperatures.
The discussion began after a post was published in the group 'Consumer.uz'. The author of this post presented a photograph of a stop near the North Station and described it as unsuitable for waiting for transport when temperatures approach 50 degrees Celsius.
The author noted that this structure is merely a canopy that barely provides protection for passengers from the sun. He emphasized that such structures are appearing more and more frequently in the city, despite numerous appeals from citizens.
In a comment on the post, the author wrote: 'Elderly people and children stand at these stops every day, and not for just five minutes. It's almost 50 degrees outside. Who came up with these stops?'
This publication sparked a wide discussion among users. Many agreed with the author, stating that the new pavilions do not adequately protect against rain, wind, and sun. Some users recalled old stops that are being demolished in Tashkent, noting that they offered better protection due to enclosed sides and benches.
Questions also arose in the comments regarding those who designed and approved this design, with one user remarking: 'It was invented by someone who never uses public transport.'
Furthermore, the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan has initiated a proposal for the need to revise the approach to equipping public transport stops in Tashkent. The party suggested launching a pilot project called 'green stops' to make waiting for buses more comfortable during the hot season.
