No fines for cash payments: Ministry of Transport clarifies ticket rules

On January 4, the Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA) published an interview with officials regarding the cessation of cash payments for bus fares in Tashkent starting from January 1, 2025. In the interview, Salimjon Nishonboev, an inspector from the Transport Inspection Agency’s regional office, mentioned that passengers paying in cash would be fined. The news has since been revised to state that fines apply to passengers traveling without tickets – editorial note.

Nishonboev reminded that both drivers and passengers are subject to administrative liability for accepting cash payments. He emphasized that in such cases, passengers and drivers would initially be warned, and later fined under administrative code articles 144 (Traveling without a ticket) and 145 (Transporting passengers without a ticket). The fine for traveling without a ticket was stated to be 1/10 of the minimum wage, or 37,500 UZS. Kun.uz also published this information based on UzA’s report.

This statement caused widespread protests on social media. The Ministry of Transport later clarified to Kun.uz that the inspection official had made a mistake in conveying the information.

Additionally, the Ministry issued an official statement on their Telegram channel, rejecting the claim that passengers paying in cash would be fined.

"Unfounded information is circulating on social media regarding passengers who pay cash for bus fares in Tashkent city routes being fined.

Article 144 of the Administrative Responsibility Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan stipulates that a passenger traveling without a ticket in a trolleybus, tram, or city and suburban bus will be fined 1/10 of the minimum wage," the official statement said.

In simpler terms, passengers traveling without a ticket on a bus will now be fined 37,500 UZS.

"Since this is a new system, it is not being implemented yet. Specially formed working groups will monitor the situation and issue initial warnings. Once cash payments decrease and electronic payments increase, we will be better equipped to monitor and start fining passengers traveling without tickets," a source from the Ministry told Kun.uz.

It should be noted that from January 1, 2025, cash payments for bus fares in Tashkent will be completely eliminated. Passengers can now only purchase tickets through infokiosks (self-service terminals) for 3,000 UZS for a one-time ticket or pay using ATTO, bank cards, or mobile apps.

The advantages of electronic payments include a fare of 1,700 UZS. Using multiple buses within one hour becomes cheaper: for example, the first ride costs 1,700 UZS, the second ride 700 UZS, and the third ride is free.

Earlier, Mirakbar Ikromov, head of the Tashkent City Transport Department, told Kun.uz that the city has 2,600 bus stops, with more than 300 lacking kiosks for one-time QR ticket purchases. He also mentioned that efforts are underway to integrate nearly 5,000 existing infokiosks into the system.