From September 1, passengers on buses operating under gross-cost contracts must pay as they board, according to a Cabinet of Ministers resolution.
Fares may be paid with a transport card, bank card, smartphone or another contactless method. NFC, QR, biometric payments, BLE and UWB are also listed as permitted technologies.
Passengers entitled to free or discounted travel must immediately tap a social or transport card on the validator. If payment or eligibility is not confirmed on boarding, the journey is treated as ticketless and may lead to administrative liability.
The Transport Ministry and Interior Ministry have been given three months to draft stronger penalties for ticketless travel on urban and suburban public transport.
By September 1, the authorities must also introduce integrated payment for Tashkent public transport and suburban trains, including train–bus and train–metro fare plans.
