Dushanbe, once renowned for its plentiful taxi fleet and some of the cheapest taxi service in the world, faced public transit chaos this summer following an early May decision by city authorities to consolidate the private taxi market.
The first private taxi service in Dushanbe was established in 2015, quickly gaining popularity and paving the way for Uber-like ride-sharing services by the late 2010s. Recognized by their vibrant white, yellow, and green colors, an abundance of carpool options, and straightforward service (passengers can either use a mobile app or call a simple number like 1111 or 9090), Dushanbe’s private taxis have rapidly become the preferred mode of public transport in the city. Low fares – just 10 somoni (~$1.1) for the first 2.5 kilometers and 2.5 somoni (~$0.3) for each additional kilometer – have been the main attraction, transforming Dushanbe’s private taxi market into one of the most affordable and user-friendly in the world.
Working for a taxi service also became a dependable way to earn income in a country with abundant labor but limited employment opportunities. Anyone with a driver’s licence could lease a vehicle and become a taxi driver without needing to pass any customer service or driving tests, paying the employer only 10-13 percent of their daily revenue.
By June 2024, there were 12 registered taxi services operating a fleet of 4,350 vehicles in Dushanbe.
On May 2, 2025, the city mayor’s office and the antimonopoly department moved to consolidate the private taxi sector. Of the dozen registered services, only Eco-Taxi, Olucha-Auto, Koviyon, and Safo-Taxi received licences and permission to operate fleets of up to 3,000 vehicles each. The authorities also mandated that each licensed taxi install a camera, accept cashless payments, and issue receipts to passengers.
The authorities justify the decision as necessary to improve passenger service and road safety, as well as to enhance tax collection and regulatory oversight. However, rumors suggest that the four licensed taxi companies are owned by businessmen connected to the government, and the move is intended to eliminate their competition and maximize profits.
The profit motive appears to be corroborated by the immediate increase in leasing fees – from 10-13 percent of daily revenue to 100 somoni (~$11) per day, regardless of whether the driver worked or earned that day. This fee hike significantly diminishes earnings for drivers, many of whom have taken substantial bank loans to lease vehicles. Taxi drivers have voiced their complaints about how the fee increase is forcing them out of work. Many also report that licensed companies are pressuring drivers to lease more expensive electric vehicles to conform to Dushanbe’s green transport policies and the country’s goal to import more electric vehicles from neighboring China and boost domestic production.
The financial pressure of leasing costly electric vehicles, installing cameras and card readers, and paying higher daily fees discourages drivers from taking short rides, leading them to focus on longer, more profitable routes. Passengers are noticing a decline in service quality and taxi availability. Drivers warn that without relief, many will be pushed off the road not by market competition, but by Dushanbe’s increasingly centralized and stringent transport policies – and potentially by the profit motives of taxi company owners.