The number of minibuses in Bishkek has decreased by 2.5 times over four years. Maksat Nusuvaliev, Director of the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development, announced at a press conference.
According to him, about 4,500 minibuses, 140 buses and 140 trolleybuses served their routes earlier.
«The city is currently served by about 1,800 minibuses, and the number of municipal transport has also decreased. There are many reasons: the fleet is not updated, many minibus drivers leave the country in search of a good income, change their occupation. All this adds up to reduction in the number of public transport,» Maksat Nusuvaliev said.
He added that the City Hall has no goal to increase the number of minibuses in the city. On the contrary, it is working to increase the fleet of municipal carriers.
«We are working on three projects. 250 buses are planned to be purchased under the EBRD project. We expect the first batch of 124 units in the first half of 2023. Within the framework of the ADB project, we will purchase 120 electric buses. In addition, 1 billion soms have been allocated from the city budget this year. We planned to buy 100 buses. Thanks to the work done, the number has increased to 120. They will come to Bishkek by the end of the year,» the head of the department concluded.
