DUSHANBE, May 4, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The Dushanbe municipal authorities say rumors that drivers of fixed-route taxies in Dushanbe allegedly went on a mass strike Wednesday morning, demanding rise in fares in connection with gasoline price hike do not correspondent to the facts.

Firouz Rasoulov, the head of the Dushanbe transportation oversight department, told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon that some refueling stations did not have diesel fuel in the morning, and therefore, “some fixed-route-taxies were late in coming to work today morning.”  “The problem was resolved promptly,” he stressed, adding that they made a special raid Wednesday morning to reveal drivers who illegally raised fares and persons, who are self-employed taxi-drivers without appropriate license.

According to him, administrative action will be imposed on taxi drivers who illegally raised fares or changed routes.