DUSHANBE, February 7, 2009, Asia-Plus — Dushanbe mayor’s office gave a press conference on February 6 to explain the decision prohibiting China-made economy minivans, used as fixed route taxies and known among the population as Tangem, from the main streets of the capital.
Speaking to reporters, Deputy Dushanbe Mayor, Abduhomid Miraliyev, said that the main purpose of the decision was to unload the city roads and reduce the number of traffic accidents.
“According to the preliminary data, more than 5,000-5,500 Tangems are now used as fixed-route taxies in Dushanbe,” said the deputy mayor, “They may work on the same routes but bypass roads, which they are prohibited from. They just may cross them.”
Miraliyev noted that 150 busses and 60 trolleybuses would be delivered to the city this month. “One bus or trolleybus may replace up to ten economy minivans,” the deputy mayor said.
We will recall that Dushanbe Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev on February 5 signed a resolution prohibiting China-made economy minivans, used as fixed route taxies, from the main streets of the city.
According to Shavkat Saidov, a spokesman for the Dushanbe mayor, the decision made following the request of the Dushanbe economic development and antimonopoly policy directorate is aimed at streamlining the traffic in the city.
After the resolution takes effect the China-made economy minivans will be prohibited from the Ismoili Somoni Avenue and the Nemat Qaraboyev Avenue, the spokesman said, noting that relevant municipal services are to organize additional bus and trolleybus routes along the mentioned streets.
