The Tashkent city hokimiyat (administration) announced that it would continue efforts to “increase the priority of public transport and implement a policy of reducing dependence on private cars”.
As part of this policy, dedicated bus lanes running along the center of streets, similar to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, are planned for four additional sections with a combined length of 17.9 km.
Planned new BRT sections:
Muqimiy street — 4.6 km;
Qoratosh and Ko‘kcha Darvoza streets — 4.2 km;
Parkent street — 2.8 km;
Mirzo Ulugbek avenue — 6.3 km.
Previously, tram services operated along these sections. The tram system was shut down in early May 2016.
According to the hokimiyat, specialists analyzed more than 150 km of streets served by public transport routes before selecting the sections listed above.
“The main goal of the project is to make public transport fast, convenient, safe and popular so that travelling by bus becomes an attractive alternative to a private car. This corresponds to the strategy of the Traffic Organization Center and the city’s direction of reducing dependence on private vehicles,” the statement said.
The capital’s hokim (mayor) has already signed the decision, and the budget for preparing design documentation is now being drawn up. Preliminary estimates put the cost at around 6.5 billion soums. The expenditure is expected to be covered by the Tashkent City Development Fund, the hokimiyat said.
Toshkent Invest Kompaniyasi, company set up to attract investments for the city projects, will act as the project client. Design firms, contractors and technical supervision service providers will be selected through competitive tenders in accordance with the procedure established by law, the hokimiyat said.
Before construction begins, utility lines and municipal infrastructure networks will be inspected. If any faults are found, the network will be repaired, relocated or replaced.
“Project requirements include convenient pedestrian routes, high-quality road signs, bus stop facilities and lighting. Particular attention will be paid to the quality of road surfaces. The existing requirement remains in force: to use polymer-modified stone mastic asphalt (PMSMA) with polymer-modified bitumen and durable crushed stone made from rock,” the statement said. This type of road surface has been used in the capital since 2023.
The city hokimiyat also pledged to keep residents informed about planned changes and each stage of the project.
A BRT line is currently under construction along Shahrisabz street (3.2 km), extending the line along Shota Rustaveli street (6.5 km). It will subsequently continue along Amir Temur avenue (7.6 km) and Yangi Sergeli street (5.5 km). The city hokimiyat presented the project in April.