DUSHANBE, July 14, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Dushanbe municipal authorities will fully ban use of 8-seat Chinese Hafei, Chanhu and Damas minivans, known among the population as Tangem (named after a female Korean soap opera star popular on local television), for commercial passenger carriage in the city starting from September 1 this year, Deputy Dushanbe Mayor, Abduhomid Sheraliyev, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 13.

According to him, the ban is motivated by enhancement of regulation of the public transport in he capital city and passenger safety concerns.

 “More spacious, comfortable and safe Gazel (Russia) and Hyundai (South Korea) minivans are available for lease to drivers with commercial transport licenses,” the deputy mayor said, noting that 782 Gazels and Hyundais have been delivered to Dushanbe to this day to replace the Tangem minivans.  More than 200 other Hyundai and Gazel minivans will be delivered to Dushanbe until August 31, he added.

According to the statistics from the Dushanbe traffic police department, 1,028 Tangems are currently working in Dushanbe legally and more than 1,000 others are carrying passengers illegally.

To enforce the ban, authorities have established fines for violators.  Those who break the ruling will have to pay a fee of 350 to 700 somoni.

We will recall that Dushanbe authorities banned the Tangem minivans from moving along the main streets of the Tajik capital in April this year, contending that the Tangem minivans are a source of frequent traffic accidents.