DUSHANBE, September 16, 2010, Asia-Plus — Entrepreneurs are continuing to complain about loss of freight during rail transit via the territory of Uzbekistan.
Andrey Tropin, the deputy head of the shipment department of Tajik Railways, told Asia-Plus today afternoon that several cases of theft of freight bound for Tajikistan on Uzbek territory have been reported over the current month alone. According to him, the cargo theft cases have been taking place most likely during customs control at the Uzbek railroad station Kudukli.
“After defining the actual volume of losses, we plan to bring in an action against the Uzbek side,” Tropin said.
He added that Uzbekistan was continuing to suspend rail cargo traffic to Tajikistan’s southern Khatlon province. 150 freight cars bound for Khatlon province have been stranded on Uzbek territory.
In all, more than 900 Tajikistan-bound freight cars are still being held up in Uzbekistan. Tropin noted that Uzbek officials allowed railroad cars moving to Dushanbe (several cars per day), while the rail cargo traffic to Khatlon province has still been suspended.
Tajikistan”s freight transit through Uzbekistan has been slowed since late 2009. Local experts attribute the delays to Dushanbe’s decision to raise funds within the country to complete the construction of the Roghun HPP.
