The Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan has identified the increase in the number of vehicles as the primary cause of traffic congestion in Dushanbe.

As of March 1 this year, over 666,000 vehicles have reportedly been registered in Tajikistan, nearly double the number from a decade ago, according to the ministry. Among these, there are around 587,000 passenger cars.

The ministry attributes this rise to the growth in the country’s population, which increased from 5.3 million in 1991 to 10.2 million in 2023.  Such a sharp rise in both the number of vehicles and the population has led to significant road problems.

This growth is particularly felt during peak hours in the morning and evening when people travel to work and school or return home, causing severe traffic jams.

The ministry also notes that this situation contributes to air pollution from vehicle emissions.

In addition to the growing number of cars, the ministry identifies other contributing factors to the congestion, including renovation work, traffic accidents, malfunctioning traffic lights, driver frustration, and human error.