Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Bus waiting times in Tashkent have been cut by more than half, from 18–20 minutes to 8–10 minutes, while average operating speeds have increased from 18 km/h to 21 km/h, according to a draft presidential resolution outlining Uzbekistan's local passenger transport development strategy through 2030.
The document reviews reforms implemented in recent years, highlighting improvements in public transport performance, the expansion of route networks and the renewal of bus and electric bus fleets.
Daily public transport passenger numbers in Tashkent have increased from 650,000 to 1.4 million.
Across Uzbekistan, 1,024 new public transport routes have been established, providing an additional 3,687 mahallas with access to transport services.
Since 2023, Uzbekistan has operated a gross-cost contracting model under which transport operators are paid based on route completion, timetable compliance, distance travelled and service quality rather than the number of passengers carried.
By the end of the first half of 2026, a total of 290 bus routes had been transferred to this system, including 169 in Tashkent and 121 in other regions.
During the period covered by the reforms, 2,005 buses and 646 electric buses were purchased for public transport, bringing the total number of newly acquired vehicles to 2,651.
Railway infrastructure has also expanded significantly.
Over the past decade, Uzbekistan has constructed more than 600 km of new railway lines.
The 465-km Bukhara–Urgench–Khiva railway section has been electrified, increasing the share of electrified railway lines from 43% in 2022 to 53.2%.
Travel time between Tashkent and Khiva has fallen from 14 hours to 7 hours and 40 minutes.
Rail passenger numbers increased from 9.6 million in 2023 to 10.5 million in 2025.
Three EP3D electric trains were purchased for suburban passenger services, while a contract was signed with Czech company Škoda Transportation for the delivery of 10 additional electric trains.
A feasibility study has also been completed for the construction of a dedicated high-speed railway line between Tashkent and Samarkand.
In the aviation sector, 11 airports have undergone reconstruction, while the number of air routes has increased from 167 to 206.
The value of passenger and freight transport services rose from 84 trillion soums in 2022 to 188.3 trillion soums in 2025, representing a 2.2-fold increase over three years.
Despite these improvements, the draft strategy identifies insufficient integration between different modes of transport as a continuing challenge.
Uzbekistan does not yet have a unified digital transport platform or an integrated ticketing system. Timetables across transport operators remain uncoordinated, while direct connections between airports, railway stations and bus terminals are often unavailable.
The transport development strategy through 2030 is intended, in part, to address these shortcomings and improve coordination across passenger transport services.
