Measures for the further development of the public transportation system were discussed
Uzbekistan
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on further improving the public transportation system in the regions and accelerating efforts in this area.
In recent years, extensive work has been underway to provide the population with convenient, safe, and environmentally friendly public transportation. Specifically, over the past three years, 2,650 modern electric buses and coaches have been delivered to the capital and regional centers. 279 regular routes have been established under gross contracts. For the first time, approximately 2 trillion soums are being allocated annually from the budget for these purposes.
As a result, the number of buses operating on these routes has reached 3,150. The number of daily trips has increased from 18,000 in 2022 to 45,200, and passenger traffic has increased from 900,000 to 2.3 million. This has resulted in the creation of 4,800 new jobs.
The presentation addressed the objectives for the further development of public transportation. It was noted that, due to accelerated urbanization and a sharp increase in public transportation activity in the outskirts of the capital and regional centers, traffic volume at the entrances to cities has increased by 30 percent.
In this regard, it is proposed to transition urban public transportation to a unified agglomeration system. Furthermore, the gross contract system will also cover bus routes operating up to 12 kilometers from cities.
Specifically, it was noted that by organizing transport links between the capital and the settlements of Nazarbek, Mineralnye Vody, and Uch Qahramon in the Tashkent region, vehicle traffic can be reduced by at least 20 percent. A total of 19 such routes are planned for the capital and 79 in regional centers.
To integrate public transportation in the capital and suburban rail service, it is proposed to introduce convenient fares such as "commuter train to bus" and "commuter train to metro."
The need to upgrade public transportation rolling stock in regional centers was also noted. According to estimates, the regions require an additional 1,500 large and medium-capacity buses. In this regard, proposals have been put forward to stimulate the purchase of modern buses, expand financial opportunities for entrepreneurs, and establish credit lines. Specifically, to support entrepreneurs, it has been proposed to extend the exemption from the recycling fee on imported buses for another two years.
The presentation focused on creating decent and safe working conditions for bus drivers. It was noted that overtime work by some drivers currently negatively impacts service quality. Last year, 1,670 complaints related to driver behavior and service were received from residents in the capital alone. Furthermore, 109 road accidents involving buses were recorded.
In this regard, tasks have been set to improve the gross contract system, increase the number of drivers per bus from two to three, and strengthen traffic safety measures and improve service standards.
To assess the volume and quality of public transportation work, dispatch centers were established in each region. As a result, 90 percent of buses now operate strictly according to schedule.
Now, by implementing artificial intelligence technologies in these centers, it is proposed to organize bus service according to passenger flow. This will reduce the cost of transporting a single passenger by 10-15 percent.
The head of state noted that public transportation development must cover not only densely populated cities but also tourist centers.
Based on the stated goals of transforming Samarkand and Namangan into cities with a population of over one million, specific master plans were instructed to develop for the expansion of modern "green transport" routes for residents and tourists in these regions.
It was noted that in recent years, the flow of tourists to Khiva has tripled, dramatically increasing the demand for convenient public transportation. In this regard, the need to launch public transportation development programs in major tourist centers such as Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Margilan, and Kokand was emphasized.
The President emphasized that public transportation is an important area directly impacting the quality of daily life, urban mobility, environmental conditions, and economic activity. He instructed officials to improve the convenience and safety of transportation services, expand routes based on the agglomeration approach, and introduce digitalization and artificial intelligence solutions into the industry.
As a result, the number of buses operating on these routes has reached 3,150. The number of daily trips has increased from 18,000 in 2022 to 45,200, and passenger traffic has increased from 900,000 to 2.3 million. This has resulted in the creation of 4,800 new jobs.
The presentation addressed the objectives for the further development of public transportation. It was noted that, due to accelerated urbanization and a sharp increase in public transportation activity in the outskirts of the capital and regional centers, traffic volume at the entrances to cities has increased by 30 percent.
In this regard, it is proposed to transition urban public transportation to a unified agglomeration system. Furthermore, the gross contract system will also cover bus routes operating up to 12 kilometers from cities.
Specifically, it was noted that by organizing transport links between the capital and the settlements of Nazarbek, Mineralnye Vody, and Uch Qahramon in the Tashkent region, vehicle traffic can be reduced by at least 20 percent. A total of 19 such routes are planned for the capital and 79 in regional centers.
To integrate public transportation in the capital and suburban rail service, it is proposed to introduce convenient fares such as "commuter train to bus" and "commuter train to metro."
The need to upgrade public transportation rolling stock in regional centers was also noted. According to estimates, the regions require an additional 1,500 large and medium-capacity buses. In this regard, proposals have been put forward to stimulate the purchase of modern buses, expand financial opportunities for entrepreneurs, and establish credit lines. Specifically, to support entrepreneurs, it has been proposed to extend the exemption from the recycling fee on imported buses for another two years.
The presentation focused on creating decent and safe working conditions for bus drivers. It was noted that overtime work by some drivers currently negatively impacts service quality. Last year, 1,670 complaints related to driver behavior and service were received from residents in the capital alone. Furthermore, 109 road accidents involving buses were recorded.
In this regard, tasks have been set to improve the gross contract system, increase the number of drivers per bus from two to three, and strengthen traffic safety measures and improve service standards.
To assess the volume and quality of public transportation work, dispatch centers were established in each region. As a result, 90 percent of buses now operate strictly according to schedule.
Now, by implementing artificial intelligence technologies in these centers, it is proposed to organize bus service according to passenger flow. This will reduce the cost of transporting a single passenger by 10-15 percent.
The head of state noted that public transportation development must cover not only densely populated cities but also tourist centers.
Based on the stated goals of transforming Samarkand and Namangan into cities with a population of over one million, specific master plans were instructed to develop for the expansion of modern "green transport" routes for residents and tourists in these regions.
It was noted that in recent years, the flow of tourists to Khiva has tripled, dramatically increasing the demand for convenient public transportation. In this regard, the need to launch public transportation development programs in major tourist centers such as Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Margilan, and Kokand was emphasized.
The President emphasized that public transportation is an important area directly impacting the quality of daily life, urban mobility, environmental conditions, and economic activity. He instructed officials to improve the convenience and safety of transportation services, expand routes based on the agglomeration approach, and introduce digitalization and artificial intelligence solutions into the industry.
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