Tashkent begins enforcing fines for unpaid fares on public transport

Starting from March 14 of this year, individuals who travel in Tashkent without paying their fare will be fined 37,500 sums. This was reported by the "Tashshahartranskhizmat" joint-stock company.

It has been noted that explanatory and promotional efforts have been made to inform passengers who have failed to pay their fare.

"To date, explanatory and promotional work has been carried out for passengers who have not paid their fare or who have traveled without a ticket on bus routes. Despite these efforts, cases of intentional non-payment of fares among passengers are on the rise," the report states.

The report further adds that, beginning March 14, passengers who have not paid for their fare on bus routes or who travel without a ticket will face a fine of 37,500 sums, in accordance with Article 144 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility of the Republic of Uzbekistan (traveling without a ticket in public transport).

For reference, according to Article 144 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, transporting goods without paying the fare on trolleybuses, trams, city and suburban buses, or route taxis will result in a fine equal to one-tenth of the basic calculation amount for each piece of cargo (37,500 sums).

It is important to note that, starting January 1 of this year, the practice of accepting cash payments on buses has been discontinued. From this date, the fare for a single passenger on the capital's public transport routes (buses and metro) has been set at 3,000 sums. However, when using an electronic payment system (transport or bank card), the fare remains unchanged at 1,700 sums. The practice of collecting cash fares on all buses has been eliminated. Additionally, Deputy Head of the Transport Control Inspectorate Sanjar Turgunov mentioned at a press conference at the Agency for Information and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan that a system for additional payments for boarding buses with excess baggage is expected to be introduced.