DUSHANBE, February 18, 2011, Asia-Plus – More than 200 truck and cars have been stuck in a traffic jam at the Hushyori toll plaza on the 47th kilometer of the Dushanbe-Khujand highway in Varzob district. The Asia-Plus’ reporter says vehicles have lined up for several kilometers.
One of truck drivers, who introduced himself as Juraboy Mardonov, says he has been stuck in that traffic jam since February 11. “Avalanches have poured down on a stretch on the highway after the 60th kilometer and in order not to pay twice for proceeding through the tool station we are forced to stay here, before the terminal,” Mardonov said.
The Asia-Plus’ reporter says it is necessary to pay 6.40 somoni for proceeding trough the toll plaza. “However, traffic police officers at the checkpoint that is located straight after the toll station say that the highway is still closed for traffic,” he noted.
In the meantime, representatives from the company in charge of the toll road, Innovative Road Solutions (IRS), say the road-clearing operations are carried out constantly.
Bakhtiyor Ashourov, the IRS manager for Varzob district told Asia-Plus that five special snow plows clear the stretch of the highway from 10th to 57th kilometer of snow regularly. “Our company is in charge of this stretch and it is cleared of snow regularly according to schedule,” Ashourov said.
