On 4 August the state information agency TDH reported that 200 new buses Hyundai New Super Aero City (Korea) and 100 passenger taxi cars are now running on city routes in Ashgabat.
New vehicles will be used to service city routes as well as participants of and visitors to the Asian Games.
Compartments of city busses are reported to be equipped with air conditioners, stereo system, loud speakers and electronic clock.
Taxis are equipped with receipt machines and mobile credit card terminals. Global positioning systems (GPS) are installed in buses and passenger cars.
It should be mentioned that one can come across comments on the Internet that air conditioners are installed even at bus stops in Turkmenistan.There are no such bus stops in ordinary residential districts without white market high rise apartment blocks.
Buses are also not equipped with climate control systems.It is very grueling to ride on public transport in summer during rush hours when buses are overcrowded.
As regards taxis, residents prefer the services rendered by private taxi drivers rather than state-operated taxi companies.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that state-employed taxi drivers are urged to fulfill the plan and for this reason they often overrate fees for their services.