Uzbekistan keeps building a modern transportation system, placing emphasis on enhanced safety and comfort for passengers. Deputy Head of the Uzbek Agency for Automobile and River Transport Shoalim Shovahobov told Uzbekistan Today about ongoing efforts:
In the years since independence, Uzbekistan has implemented a range of measures to reform the public transport sector, coordinate passenger transport traffic, provide timely and quality services. The work has been underway. The authorities pay attention to renovation of passenger transport stops to bring them in line with current standards.
We have scheduled to open 65 new passenger routes in Uzbekistan this year. Urban, suburban and intercity routes will be created with an eye to the people’s wishes. To date, we have established passenger routes even in the most remote villages, and this work will be continued in subsequent years.
The right for transportation on passenger routes is obtained through public tenders, which are held by commissions under regional and city administrations, and by inter-agency commission of our agency. This ensures a tough competition in the market of transportation services through the creation of equal conditions for all participants. For example, 1,116 passenger routes were presented at 133 open tenders last year.
This year, carriers plan to purchase 450 modern buses and 500 trucks. The vehicles will be purchased from local producers.
65 new passenger routes with 524 vehicles were opened across the country last year. They are represented by 129 buses, 14 vans and 381 Damas cars. 413 Isuzu buses, manufactured at Samarkand Automobile Plant, were purchased on a leasing basis and through bank loans for carrying passengers. 587 trucks, 85 vans and 445 cars were purchased for commercial purposes.
Over the past 15 years, the number of passenger routes in the country has increased almost twice - up to 4,346, including 997 urban routes, 2,732 – suburban, and 617 long-distance routes.
A very important aspect - the fight against counterfeit carriage and enhanced control over private transportation companies – will remain in the spotlight. Last year alone, 28,500 infringements of the law on passenger traffic licensing were revealed during 4,600 inspections. Information on the facts revealed was forwarded to respective supervisory authorities for action. Over 20,000 car owners involved in illegal transportation were fined for more than 19 billion soums. (currency rates of CB RU from 29.02.2016, 1$= 2841.60 soums)
Audits at private companies engaged in licensed passenger transportation were enhnaced. The results showed that 18 of them were engaged in additional non-licensed transportation. A total of 60 licenses were suspended and 7 were canceled for violations of license agreements on the decision of courts in 2015. They were owned by 48 different companies.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
