Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tashkent is developing a 22.7km bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor linking the Sergeli and Yunusabad districts, with dedicated bus lanes and upgraded transport infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Transport.
The project covers four sections: Shota Rustaveli Street, Shakhrisabz Street, Amir Temur Avenue and Yangi Sergeli Street. It also includes improvements to bus stops, traffic signals and passenger information systems.
The 6.5km section along Shota Rustaveli Street has been operating as a BRT corridor since 2025. On Shakhrisabz Street, the section is 3.2km long, with the first 2.2km already commissioned and work continuing on the remainder.
Work has also started on a 7.6km section along Amir Temur Avenue and a 5.5km stretch on Yangi Sergeli Street.
The Transport Ministry said average bus speeds on Shota Rustaveli Street had increased by 45% compared with 2023, while average speeds for passenger cars had risen by 18%. The number of daily public transport passengers on the section had grown by 8,000.
The authorities say dedicated bus lanes are intended to increase the number of people transported along city streets. According to figures cited in the report, a single traffic lane carries between 600 and 1,600 people per hour in passenger cars. A dedicated bus lane can carry up to 8,000 passengers per hour.
The report also highlights growing demand for public transport in the capital. Buses carried a record 1.52 million passengers on 15 September, while the metro handled 1.17 million trips the previous day.
The two figures represent approximately 2.69 million passenger trips over two days, not in a single day.
The project includes upgrading traffic signals ahead of the planned introduction of a green wave system, as well as building bus stops and platforms with greater passenger capacity. The authorities also plan to increase the number of buses and adjust route schedules.
Other measures include replacing outdated street lighting, installing CCTV cameras and emergency SOS buttons, and placing electronic displays at bus stops to show bus arrival times.
The report cites research by economists Gilles Duranton and Matthew Turner on road traffic in US cities. Their studies found that increasing road capacity is associated with growth in vehicle travel.
This phenomenon, known as induced demand, means that expanding roads can lead to more car journeys over time, eventually bringing congestion back.
The report argues that improvements to public transport should also benefit motorists by reducing the number of cars on the roads.
According to the Transport Ministry, 142,000 Tashkent residents have already switched from private cars and taxis to public transport.
A reduction in the number of vehicles in traffic is expected to ease pressure on the city's roads.
