People’s Democratic Party urges to review paid parking tariffs in Tashkent

Deputies of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan stated that parking fees for paid parking spaces in Tashkent should be reviewed.

According to information published on the party’s official website, the parking fee on the capital’s streets, where nearly 14,000 paid parking spaces are planned to operate citywide, starts from UZS 12,000 per hour. The lack of transparency and reporting on the use of these funds has led to various discussions among the public.

It was emphasized that such a system should be aligned with people’s real incomes and capacities, taking into account their essential daily needs.

“For example, our citizens working in the city center and nearby areas are required to leave their cars in paid parking spaces for about eight hours during the workday. This means daily expenses reach around UZS 100,000, and the monthly cost exceeds even the minimum monthly wage. This raises serious concerns about whether the prices match people’s average incomes.

“Paid parking lots also operate in neighboring countries, with which we share many similarities. Their parking fees are several times cheaper. This shows that the tariff levels in our country are far from both economic logic and social justice,” the party’s statement said.

The PDP studied public opinion on paid parking in the capital and submitted several proposals.

In particular:

• When setting any tariff or fee for public services, it is necessary to consider people’s real incomes, level of social protection and essential needs.
• The approved tariffs should have a clear economic basis and be reviewed. Information on where the collected funds go and how they are spent must be made publicly available.
• Paid parking spaces near social facilities – including state medical institutions, public service centers and Inson centers, as well as libraries – should allow free parking for a certain period.
• At least 5 percent of parking spaces on the premises of retail businesses, service providers, medical, sports and cultural–entertainment institutions should be allocated free of charge for privileged categories of citizens. It is also advisable to consider the possibility of increasing this quota.
• In several locations, paid parking has been introduced on road sections where a “no stopping” sign is installed, effectively implying that “payment makes it possible”. Allowing parking in areas where stopping is officially prohibited, simply after payment, contradicts the principles of equality set out in traffic rules.

Earlier, paid roadside parking zones were launched in Tashkent as part of a pilot project.