Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that fees charged by private taxi drivers transporting passengers between Turkmenistan’s provinces have skyrocketed after the quarantine measures were tightened.
For instance, taxi drivers charge 2500 manats per passenger ($714 using the official rate or $117 at the current “black market” rate) to get from Turkmenbashi to Ashgabat despite the fact that the previous fare was 1500 manats.
Drivers inform passengers in advance that they will have to drive through the desert to circumvent police checkpoints; otherwise they will have to pay large bribes to police officers since tightened control has been introduced.
The amount of bribes apparently varies. For example, before the introduction of quarantine measures police officers coerced a bribe of 100 manats per each passenger for a trip in an illegal taxi from Turkmenbashi to Ashgabat.
According to the news outlet Turkmen News, concrete blocks have been installed on the motorway between Lebap and Mary velayat to combat illegal taxi services and bypass roads near Turkmenbashi used by taxi drivers have been dug.
Radio “Azatlyk” reports that in Mary velayat police officers request drivers to present negative COVID-19 certificates even if they make trips between districts of the same province.
Nevertheless, services of taxi drivers are in demand among residents because they have no other opportunity to move between the regions.
In order to secure an exit permit in order to leave the province, legitimate reasons are required, such as critical medical procedures (for instance, chemotherapy), a funeral of an immediate family members or a business travel authorization form.
Based on the documents a special commission under the khyakimlik’s office reviews the case to decide whether a permit will be issued or not.Bribes usually need to be paid in order to obtain each of the certificates.
The post Taxi fares for intercity trips skyrocket following tightened quarantine measures first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.