Public transport in Tashkent may operate 24-hour

Plans are underway to draft a Presidential decree titled "On Measures for the Further Development of the Night Economy in Uzbekistan" and a law aimed at reforming the procedures for developing the night economy and issuing licenses, according to the Strategic Reforms Agency.

The agency has analyzed the night economy practices of countries such as Great Britain, Thailand, the USA, the UAE, and Australia and is exploring opportunities to expand this sector in Uzbekistan.

"Currently, initiatives to boost the night economy in Tashkent have been limited to transforming certain streets into gastronomic hubs," the report states. 

However, broader proposals include:

• Beginning February 1, 2025, a working group will be established to develop the night economy and tourism.
• Recreation facilities would operate continuously on Fridays and Saturdays, with existing nighttime operational restrictions lifted.
• Areas with high tourist potential in Tashkent will be identified and developed as night activity zones.
• Public transport, including buses, trams, and metro, would transition to a 24-hour mode in cities where the night economy is being developed.
• A digital platform providing information on night facilities, public transport routes, and special offers would be created.
• Selected areas will undergo modernization, including enhanced street lighting and additional amenities for residents and tourists.

It is noteworthy that Taras Shevchenko Street in Tashkent’s Mirabad district is set to become a gastronomic street under a government initiative to create a 24/7 entertainment hub as part of the city’s tourism and service infrastructure development.