Spiralling Transport Costs in North Tajikistan
Residents of the northern town of Khujand are upset about the latest rise in public transport fares, Asliddin Latifi reports.
Spiralling Transport Costs in North Tajikistan
Residents of the northern town of Khujand are upset about the latest rise in public transport fares, Asliddin Latifi reports.
Until recently, the only form of public transport in the town was “marshrutkas”, minibuses used as communal taxis.
A transport company official said marshrutka fares fluctuated – going down as well as up – according to instructions from central government, based on the current market price of fuel.
Fahriddin Mirzoev of the local government anti-monopoly agency said the fare increases were unavoidable, as Tajikistan was importing less petrol from its neighbour Uzbekistan, and the main countries of origin – Russia and Kazakstan – were bumping up prices.
Full-size buses have now reappeared on the streets of Khujand, but they are still few and far between.
A transport company official said marshrutka fares fluctuated – going down as well as up – according to instructions from central government, based on the current market price of fuel.
Fahriddin Mirzoev of the local government anti-monopoly agency said the fare increases were unavoidable, as Tajikistan was importing less petrol from its neighbour Uzbekistan, and the main countries of origin – Russia and Kazakstan – were bumping up prices.
Full-size buses have now reappeared on the streets of Khujand, but they are still few and far between.
