DUSHANBE, July 18, 2009, Asia-Plus -- Over the first half-year of 2009, rail and passenger traffic has decreased compared to the same period of last year, the Minister of Transport and Communications Abdurahim Ashour told reporters in Dushanbe on July 16.

According to him, the decrease in the passenger traffic has resulted from the ongoing global financial crisis.

“Over the first six months of this year, Tajikistan’s Railways has carried 331,200 passengers, which is 52,000 passengers fewer than in the same period of 2008,” said the minister, “The air passenger traffic has also decreased over the report period.  Compared to January-June 2008 52,000 people fewer have traveled by air over the report period.”

Over the same six-month period, all types of transportation have shipped more than 9 million tons of cargo, including 6.7 tons of cargo shipped by rail, Ashour said.