"Serious deficiencies found at more than 2800 stops in Uzbekistan"

The Competition Development and Consumer Protection Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan conducted a selective monitoring, which revealed that the majority of bus stops in the country do not provide sufficient conditions for passengers. The inspection results showed that more than 2800 stops lack necessary infrastructure and services. This creates inconveniences in the daily movement of thousands of passengers.

These studies were carried out by the Competition Committee and its regional departments. The activity of selected bus stops was analyzed to determine how well they meet public transport standards. Unfortunately, it was found that in some regions, stops do not meet the requirements at all.

In particular, in 286 cases, the waiting rooms were not enclosed on three sides, leaving passengers unprotected from sudden temperature changes. This situation causes significant discomfort, especially during cold winters and hot summers.

Additionally, 210 stops had commercial kiosks placed inside the waiting areas. This obstructs passenger movement and violates safety standards.

The most critical issue identified was the absence of special lifting ramps for people with disabilities at 387 stops. This makes it practically impossible for disabled citizens to use public transportation. Furthermore, 412 stops had no electric lighting, which poses a serious threat to passenger safety, especially in the evening.

Moreover, it was revealed that 57 stops lack shelters to protect passengers from rain, snow, or strong wind; 156 stops had no signs indicating their names; and 255 stops had no route numbers, which causes confusion for unfamiliar passengers.

The Competition Committee has officially sent instructions to the Ministry of Transport, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and regional administrations to eliminate these deficiencies. These findings indicate that the public transportation infrastructure needs renewal not only technically but also from a social perspective.

Experts emphasize that in modern cities, bus stops are not merely places where vehicles halt, but essential logistical points used by citizens throughout the day. Therefore, they must be ergonomically sound, safe, and environmentally friendly, and should be central to any reform efforts.

Although positive measures are being taken to improve the transportation sector in our country, the current condition of the infrastructure—especially the problems identified at bus stops—indicates a low level of satisfaction of social needs in many areas. Therefore, eliminating these critical issues and providing passengers with proper conditions remains one of the most urgent tasks today. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!