The Antimonopoly Agency has allowed the State Unitary Enterprise Dushanbenaqliyotkhadamotrason (Dushanbe Public Transport Services) to raise public transport fares.
Starting from today, bus ride by CITY Card costs 1.80 somonis (50-percent increase; current bus fare costs 1.20 somonis), trolleybus ride by City CARD costs 1.50 somonis (50-percent increase; current trolleybus fare costs 1.00 somonis),
Meanwhile, the bus ride for cash costs 2.50 somonis and the trolleybus ride for cash costs 2.00 somonis.
Shared fixed-route minibus fare has been raised from 1.60 somonis to 2.50 somonis (more than 56-percent increase).
Taxi fare has been raised from 2.50 somonis per kilometer to 3.00 somonis (20-percent increase).
Meanwhile, some drivers of the so-called shared taxis have raised fare from 7.00 somonis per seat to 10 somonis per seat.
The shared taxis follow a set route. These cars don’t always show their numbers as they are not strictly legal. Often they flash their lights at you and display a number with their fingers or hold up a sign in their hands. Just wave your hand to get their attention. You pay at the beginning of the ride.
The last time the public transport fares in Dushanbe were revised in 2011.
Dushanbenaqliyotkhadamotrason has justified its decision to raise public transport fares as based on domestic fuel market trends.
“Over the past decade, prices for fuels and lubricants have risen 110 percent, spare parts prices has risen 110, prices for vehicle spare parts have risen 90-110 percent, and energy rates have risen 300 percent. Besides, taxes, fees and average wages have grown exponentially and transport companies are unable to cover their expenses and are indebted to them,” says a statement released by Dushanbenaqliyotkhadamotrason last month.
