DUSHANBE , February 23, Asia-Plus - Uzbekistan has ensured transit between settlements of northern Tajikistan via its territory.

After being closed for eight years, the bus line from the Panjakent district to Khujand via territory of Uzbekistan was reopened on February 16, Anvarberdy Egamberdiyev, head of the Sughd transportation directorate, said.  

According to him, this bus line, 450 kilometers in length, passes via territory of Uzbekistan , crossing its four regions - Samarqand, Jizakh, Syrdaryo and Tashkent .  

Egamberdiyev says the bus line has been reopened on initiative of Tajik shippers and appropriate agreement has been reached with Uzbek authorities.   

The bus will run by this line three times a week and fare is 35 Somonis.  

It is to be noted that the closure of the Anzob and Shahriston passes by snow in the autumn-winter season makes communication by road in the northern Tajikistan and direct north-south transit within Tajikistan impossible without crossing Uzbek territory.