DUSHANBE, April 22, 2010, Asia-Plus — On Thursday April 22, 10,000 residents of 16 settlements located along the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway released an open letter to President Emomali Rahmon over a mechanism of road toll management for the highway that was introduced on April 1 this year. The full text of the letter is published in the Dushanbe weekly
Farazh
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They, in particular, ask to transfer the collection of road fees from foreign company to the state bodies. They also note that tariff set for the highway is unacceptable for the population.
Moreover, if there is no alternative road, introduction of the toll road is in contrary with all international standards and may negatively impact the country’s economy, the letter said.
We will recall that Suhrob Sharipov, director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on April 15 that the Government is currently reviewing a mechanism of road toll management for the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway.
According to him, when making decision on introduction of the road toll mechanism for this highway, relevant ministries and departments should have proceeded from the principle of social justice. “However, some officials probably thought about their pockets or budgets of their departments rather then about social situation of the Tajik people,” said Sharipov, “Adoption of such decisions must not negatively impact living conditions of the population. Relevant structures must thoroughly review their decision and I believe they will.”
Under the present mechanism of road roll management for the Dushanbe-Khujand-Chanak highway, vehicles are charged per kilometer; cars, trucks with load capacity of up to two tons and buses with no more than 19 seats pay 30 dirams (0.3 somoni) per kilometer, while trucks with load capacity of 2 to 7 tons and buses with 20 to 39 seats pay 60 dirams per kilometer, and trucks with load capacity of 7 to 14 tons and buses with more than 40 seats pay 1.50 somoni per kilometer. Heavy trucks with load capacity of 14 and more tons pay 1.88 somoni per kilometer. To-date, two toll stations have been built on this highway connecting the center and the north of Tajikistan. In all, seven toll service stations will be built on this highway.
