On the first days of 2008 the new comfortable buses started to run along the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi and the Ashgabat-Turkmenabat passenger routes. 10 IRAN KHODRO SC-457 intercity buses replenished the municipal passenger vehicle fleet. The buses are equipped with the air conditioning system, audio and television equipment and capable to convey 45 passengers from Ashgabat to the points of destination in the east and the west of Turkmenistan within 10 hours. The tickets cost 65-70 manats.

Using the new vehicles to render intercity bus service is the ‘last accent’ to the project on renewal of the city bus fleet scheduled for 2007. The project was initiated by the relevant resolutions of the President of Turkmenistan. During the second half of 2007 the fleet of the Ministry of Motor Transport was replenished by 345 buses. The agreement between the Ministry of Motor Transport and the IRAN KHODRO Corporation on delivery of 310 buses was concluded in June 2007 during the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov’s official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. 35 buses and spare parts were delivered to repay the debt of the IRI Railway to the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan. The contracts are amounted to over $ 35.5 million.

The measures to replenish the city bus fleet and overhaul the operating vehicles enabled to increase the frequency of runs on the city routes and to use a part of the buses on the suburban routes and helped to reduce rush hour traffic. In recent years the city has considerably expanded: new housing estates and new highways have been built during the years of independence and the population 0f the Turkmen capital is rapidly approximating its first million.

The people and guests of Ashgabat appreciated the spacious passenger compartment. The city and intercity buses are equipped with the high-powered low-consumption engines, which meet the European environmental requirements. The comfortable driver’s cab is equipped with the easy-to-use panel and control systems. At present, the fleet of the enterprises and subdivisions of the Ministry of Motor Transport consists of over 12,000 vehicles. A major part of the vehicles have been bought during the years of independence. Establishing an extensive transport and communications infrastructure is a priority of the policy of large-scale reforms initiated in Turkmenistan. The broad range and high-quality of transport services are the requirements the President of Turkmenistan sets to the sphere of transport. An important aspect of the national transport policy is preservation of the government subsidies to support passenger operations carried out by all modes of transport.