Khujand. June 18. “Asia-Plus” — Representatives of political parties operating in north Tajikistan urge Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and speaker of the Tajik Parliament Shukurjon Zuhurov to abolish fee charged on the Dushanbe-Chanak road.
In their joint letter, a copy of which was received by the editors, representatives of eight political parties of Sughd area note that “introduction of the fee for the use of this road negatively affects socio-economic status of the population and the entire country.”
“Toll highway may disturb political and public tranquility and affect peace and stability in the country,” representatives of political parties have said. They remind that depending on the type of vehicle each enterprise and each vehicle owner pay taxes for maintenance of automobile roads and those funds which are collected in the form of taxes may easily cover any repair works.
Due to lack of any alternative road, members of political parties urge the President and the Parliament to ban the fee charged for the use of the road and conduct repair works at the expense of taxes. They urge to ensure observance of the Constitution of Tajikistan and annul the law on toll automobile roads. They propose to use taxes and other funds in transparent and corresponding manner.
The joint letter was signed by representatives of the Agrarian party, Democratic, Communist, Socialist, Socio-Democratic, People’s Democratic, Islamic Renaissance and Economic Reform parties operating in Sughd area.
Fee, which is charged for the use of the Dushanbe-Chanak road, was officially introduced in north Tajikistan on May 20. Terminals are located on 237th kilometer, plaza Istaravshan, and on 302nd kilometer, plaza Choirukh, of the road.
There will be a total of four terminals on this highway. Two more terminals, Dehmoy plaza on the 285th kilometer and Shakhristan on the 178th kilometer, will open in the nearest time.
To cross Istaravshan terminal, which is located 70km away from the second terminal, drivers of vehicles with carrying capacity of two tons have to pay 14 Somoni. This is 20 dirams per each kilometer of the highway. Another tariff was introduced for Chorukh terminal which links Matcha region with Khujand, administrative center of Sughd area. Residents of Matcha region should pay 8 Somoni, while all others who wish to use this road are obliged to pay 16 Somoni 80 dirams. Drivers of both vehicles with carrying capacity from 2 to 7 tons and buses, which run between Khujand and Istaravshan, pay 42 Somoni, while drivers of vehicles with carrying capacity from 7 to 14 tons have to pay 105 Somoni. Drivers of vehicles with carrying capacity over 14 tons pay 131 Somoni 60 dirams. Similar tariffs have been introduced on the Khujand-Mastchoh section of the road.
