Uzbekistan proposes a 20% discount on e-tickets for suburban trains and buses

Discount on e-tickets: what is being proposed

The Ministry of Transport has drafted a presidential decree “On Approving the Strategy for the Comprehensive Development of Domestic Passenger Transportation by Rail, Air and Road until 2030”. As UzNews.uz reports, the document provides for a discount of at least 20% for passengers buying e-tickets for suburban trains as well as suburban and intercity buses. The draft text has been published on the portal for public discussion of draft regulations.

Why, and on what terms

According to the draft, the discount is being introduced to encourage the use of electronic payment and ticketing systems, ensure transparent accounting of passenger transportation and reduce the share of the shadow economy. To implement the measure, the draft provides for the approval of tariff rules as well as settlement and compensation mechanisms for carriers — that is, carriers will be compensated for the revenue lost on discounted tickets, although the specific amounts of compensation are not disclosed in the draft.

Timeline and the switch to cashless payment

The discount is planned to launch in January–March 2027 and remain in effect until the end of 2029. In addition, the document provides for a complete transition to cashless fare payment on suburban trains and suburban and intercity buses from 1 January 2030. According to the draft, about 70% of passengers on these routes currently pay in cash — and it is this figure that is proposed to be reduced to zero by 2030. The public discussion of the draft will run until 11 November of this year; until it concludes, the document’s provisions remain proposals rather than adopted decisions.