The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan commented on the proposal to raise the cost of public transport in Tashkent, emphasizing that the final decision has not yet been made.
According to the draft submitted for public discussion, the cost of one trip with electronic payment could increase from 1,700 to 2,500 soms starting October 1st. Meanwhile, the fare for cash payment is proposed to remain at 3,000 soms, and the baggage transportation fee will be 4,000 soms. These amounts include VAT.
The draft also provides for new fare plans for regular passengers, as well as separate discounted and free fares for transfers between different modes of public transport within an hour when using transport cards.
The Ministry of Transport stressed that changes in fares directly affect citizens' daily expenses, so the pricing policy must be considered in parallel with the quality of the transport services provided.
According to the ministry, Tashkent's public transport system transports about 2.5 million passengers daily. In recent years, the transport infrastructure has been modernized, and the metro network integrated with ground transport has been expanded.
The number of operating vehicles has almost doubled during this period, with the bus fleet approaching 1,900 units. The average bus interval has been reduced from 30 to 15 minutes. Simultaneously, the route network continues to expand in line with the development of new residential areas and territories around the capital.
The Ministry noted that simply acquiring new transport does not solve all problems. It is also critically important to ensure the daily operation of transport according to schedule and maintain it in proper technical condition. Operating costs include salaries for drivers, engineers, and technical specialists, fuel and electricity costs, purchase of spare parts and tires, maintenance and repair, depot and charging infrastructure expenses, cabin cleaning, as well as the functioning of dispatching, navigation, and electronic payment systems.
The Ministry of Transport stated: 'The current fare covers only a part of these costs. The main burden of financing public transport still lies with the state budget.'
If the tariffs are revised, the ministry deems it necessary to establish specific requirements for carriers. These requirements include adherence to regularity and service schedules, proper technical condition and cleanliness of vehicles, ensuring passenger safety, improving service standards, and further expanding the route network.
The draft resolution of the Tashkent City Council of People's Deputies is open for public discussion until September 19th. Citizens can submit their proposals and comments through the portal for discussing normative legal acts projects. All received suggestions will be taken into account when preparing the final decision. No decision on fare increases was made before the end of the public discussion.
