The prohibition of cash payments for public transportation fares in Tashkent, effective January 1, 2025, has caused a sharp surge in demand for transportation cards, even leading to the emergence of resellers. Davron Shoyokubov, Executive Director of ATTO, the operator of the automated transportation payment system, discussed with Kun.uz the company’s efforts to address challenges during this transition to fully digital payment methods.

How did the organization prepare its cashiers to meet the increased demand for transportation cards?

– The delivery plan for cards at the beginning of the year was set to be three times higher compared to previous periods. However, sales have exceeded expectations. In 2024, a total of 250,000 cards were sold, while 150,000 transportation cards were purchased by consumers in December and the first 20 days of January. Previously, 20,000–25,000 cards were sold monthly, but by January, this figure had turned into a daily sales rate.

Since the beginning of the month, 200,000 cards have been put into circulation, and by the end of January, it is planned to provide another 150,000 cards to passengers. Overall, a total of 350,000 transportation cards are expected to be issued during January–February. Cards are consistently supplied to sales points, with quantities adjusted according to demand.

Despite the delivery of payment cards to sales points, they are running out quickly. Social media users are also voicing complaints about this issue. Is this purely due to the sharp increase in demand?

– We have been receiving complaints through our contact center, such as “cards are unavailable, while they are being sold on the street at inflated prices.” This is related to reselling schemes. There have been cases where individuals purchased 20 or more cards, or even bought out the entire stock at the cash desk. Specifically, after purchasing the cards at their original price, these individuals wait until the stock runs out and then resell the cards on the streets at inflated prices, offering them for 30,000–50,000 UZS.

To prevent such situations, a system is being introduced to limit the sale of cards to two per individual. This measure will help curb reselling activities and reduce the number of inactive cards. As of January 15, 360,000 cards have been registered in the system, but 80,000 of them are inactive, meaning they are not being used for payments.

Instances have been reported where ATTO cards are not being read by validators during payment. What causes this, and what should passengers do to address such issues?

– This is primarily caused by technical issues with the card, such as damage to its magnetic stripe or chip. Improper handling (e.g., bending, exposure to moisture, or high temperatures) can render the card unusable. Additionally, if there are insufficient funds on the card for payment, the validator will not read it.

If there is a technical malfunction in the validators on public transport or a software issue, the card may not work. Sometimes newly purchased cards also fail to function because they have not been fully activated in the system.

To resolve such problems, passengers should visit the place where the card was purchased (e.g., metro ticket offices or post offices) to have it checked. If a replacement is necessary, staff will provide this service. In such cases, passengers are also advised to check their card balance, top up funds if needed, and report malfunctioning validators to the bus driver or inspector. If the issue persists, they can contact the transport company’s call center or dedicated complaint service.

Is it possible to replace a malfunctioning transportation card and transfer its balance to a new one? Is this service free?

– Currently, the ATTO system does not allow direct balance transfers from one card to another due to its technical specifications and security measures. If the old card has not been lost, it is possible to transfer the balance. In such cases, the faulty card and the new card should be taken to the appropriate location (a bank branch or service center), where staff will assist in transferring the balance to the new card. This service is free of charge.

If the old card has been lost and its details are not available, it is not possible to retrieve the balance.