Tariffs have been established in Uzbekistan for the use of the first toll road connecting Urgench and Khiva. The travel cost will range from 20,000 to 40,000 UZS, depending on the vehicle category and the chosen route. The press service of the Road Committee under the Ministry of Transport reported that the payment system is currently operating in test mode, with full launch scheduled for August 25th.
For M1 class passenger cars, the full route between Khiva and Urgench will cost 25,000 UZS. Drivers can also use a shorter 28 km section between Turkmanli Mahalla and Khiva, where the fee will be 20,000 UZS.
Higher tariffs are set for light commercial vehicles of class N1 weighing up to 3.5 tons, M2/M3 buses carrying more than eight passengers, and trucks weighing from 3.5 to 12 tons. For these categories, the full route will cost 40,000 UZS, and the short route will cost 25,000 UZS.
Payment is made electronically without the need to stop vehicles. The system's website features an e-wallet that can be topped up via the VIA service developed by DEVHUB or by bank card. Users can pay for each trip manually or activate automatic payment after completing the journey.
To use the system, you must add your vehicle by providing its state registration number, category, manufacturer, make, and color. Upon full launch, a mobile application for the payment system is planned to be available on Google Play and the App Store. Furthermore, the platform will provide information on road conditions, including current traffic load, estimated travel time, and weather conditions.
The Urgench-Khiva road is 35 km long. According to previously announced plans, its opening is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from approximately 45–50 minutes to 15–20 minutes. The road surface is equipped with four lanes, an underground tunnel, eight overpasses, 15 bridges, and 106 culverts, and its capacity exceeds 30,000 vehicles per day.
The maximum allowed speed on the road is 150 km/h, while the speed limit on turns is 130 km/h, and the minimum permissible speed is 40 km/h. Pedestrians, mopeds, carts, and vehicles with trailers are prohibited from using the toll road. U-turns and stops are also forbidden.
The construction of the toll road in the Khorezm region was planned as early as January. This project provides a direct connection between Khiva and Urgench International Airport. Construction began in February, and the total project cost is estimated at 120 million US dollars. The initial plan involved a four-lane road 35 km long with a capacity of over 20,000 vehicles per day, as well as 17 bridges, eight overpasses, a tunnel, and five special crossings.
On August 17th, the presidential press service announced the launch of the Urgench-Khiva road (T-001) with the introduction of tolls. The following day, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev traveled along the new road from Khiva to Urgench International Airport.