Welcome to taxi feudalism: Taxi drivers are now confined to their own regions

Drivers offering taxi services can now only operate within the territory indicated on their license card. According to the Ministry of Transport, this rule isn't new — it dates back to a government resolution passed 14 years ago. Although the original document has expired, a new regulation introduced this year reaffirms the same rule.

Photo: Kun.uz

Videos circulating on social media show people saying: “From now on, everyone can only drive taxis in their own region. In Tashkent, licenses will only be issued for cars with '01' license plates.”

According to one video, many applicants are now being denied licenses to operate in Tashkent despite their intentions.

“If a driver applies for a license, they’re now forced to work only in their own region,” the speaker explains. “For instance, a vehicle with a '01' plate can work in Tashkent. People from Andijan must work in Andijan, those from Karakalpakstan must stay in Karakalpakstan, and those from Kashkadarya are confined to Kashkadarya.”

The Ministry of Transport confirmed to Daryo that the information circulating online is accurate.

Navruz Ashurmatov, head of the ministry's press service, stated that the regulation is currently being enforced.

“This rule wasn’t just introduced yesterday or today,” Ashurmatov said. “It stems from Resolution No. 139 issued back in 2011, which regulated the activities of route-based taxis. The regulation outlined uniform identification requirements and conditions under which such taxis could operate. Clause 9 of Chapter 5 stated that drivers must operate their taxi services only within the area specified on their license card. Although this resolution is no longer valid, a new decision made in 2025 replaces it and maintains the same requirement: drivers must operate only in the region specified on their license.”

Ashurmatov further explained that a driver may only work within the territory listed on the license and adjacent areas.

“For example, a vehicle registered in Tashkent with a state license plate starting with ‘01’ can only provide taxi services in Tashkent city, Tashkent region, and Syrdarya region. The same principle applies to other provinces as well,” said the ministry’s spokesperson.

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