DUSHANBE, July 17, 2009, Asia-Plus — International organization, Auto Transport, has listed highway from Dushanbe through Khujand to Chanak (near the Uzbek border) among the most dangerous roads in the world, Minister of transport and Communications Abdurahim Ashour remarked at a press conference in Dushanbe on July 16.
According to him, many fatal traffic accidents take place on this road. “16 people have died in traffic accidents that have taken lace on this road over the first six months of this yea alone,” said the minister, “In all, 271 traffic accidents have taken place in the country over the report period and more than 100 people have been killed and 340 others have been injured in those accidents.”
On the government’s decision to introduce road pricing scheme and charging traffic along the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, the minister said that the decision would ensure traffic safety. “Experts from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade jointly with our specialists are currently working on the tariff issues,” Ashour said, adding that specialists estimated economic profit Tajikistan will have from introduction of the road pricing scheme. “The rehabilitated Dushanbe-Chanak highway will bring profit of 25 million US dollars per year with regard to traffic,” he said.
The minister further added that it could not be ruled out that road pricing scheme would be introduced for other rehabilitated highways as well.
