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Drivers protest against ban on right-hand drive taxis in Bishkek

Members of Kabylan trade union of taxi drivers protest against the ban on transportation of passengers in right-hand drive cars. Three columns made a rally along the roads of the capital, which ended with a rally in the park named after Maxim Gorky.

According to the participants of the protest, the ban on right-hand drive cars in the field of passenger transportation will lead to serious consequences.

«The first is the loss of work, a large outflow of workers from this industry is possible, who will not be able to find a new job. According to rough estimates, right-hand drive cars account for about 70 percent of the total number of taxis. The lack of urban public transport in the absence of affordable taxis will become a real problem. Only 90 municipal buses and about 140 small private buses (ISUZU), 130 trolleybuses, more than 1,500 minibuses are used in Bishkek. The price of passenger transportation services will increase sharply with a decrease in the number of cars,» said Ulan Cholponbaev, chairman of the trade union.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated procedure of taxi licensing. Deputy Interior Minister Oktyabr Urmambetov said at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on law and order, combating crime and corruption that a license would not be issued to right-hand drive vehicles.

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