The number of cars increased by 30 percent, but congestion remained at 6 points: How is the YHTEM Situation Center managing Tashkent’s traffic flow?

On September 2, 2026 — the first day of the new academic year — traffic flow on the streets of Tashkent was 30 percent higher than on a regular working day of August 24.

Despite the load, the overall congestion indicator across the city remained at the level of 6 points. Although the speed of movement decreased on some sections, a sharp increase in congestion was not allowed.

📊 Why is this important?

When the throughput of an intersection approaches its maximum limit, even a small increase in the number of cars can lead to a sharp lengthening of the queue. Therefore, a 30 percent increase in traffic flow represents a serious load for individual streets and the network of intersections connected to them.

Keeping congestion at 6 points was achieved through continuous monitoring, coordinated work, and prompt changes to traffic light phases.

🖥 City traffic movement — in real time

YHTEM launched a Situation Center for the centralized monitoring and management of traffic flows.

Almost all important regulated intersections of the capital are connected to a special digital system. Specialists monitor the road condition, the operation of traffic lights, the formation of car queues, and the movement of public transport in real time. The morning, daytime, and evening situations, as well as traffic on high-load highways, are analyzed separately.

This makes it possible to detect an increase in car queues before local congestion spreads to neighboring streets.

🚦 How is congestion eliminated?

The work process is organized on the principle of detect — analyze — regulate — check the result.
When the queue increases, specialists assess the intensity of the traffic flow and the situation on neighboring sections.
If necessary:
• the duration of the green light is extended in the high-load direction;
• traffic light phases are reconfigured;
• neighboring traffic lights are coordinated with each other;
• the queue is prevented from spilling over to the next intersection.

After that, monitoring continues and the speed of traffic recovery is assessed.

⚠️ When traffic light adjustments are not enough

If congestion is caused by a traffic accident, a faulty or stopped vehicle, the closure of a traffic lane, repair works, or violation of parking rules, the information is promptly transmitted to the employees of the Road Traffic Safety Department of the Public Security Service of the Tashkent City Main Internal Affairs Department.

On-site manual regulation, clearing of the traffic lane, or organization of a safe detour is arranged. If necessary, road, utility, emergency, and other relevant services are also involved.

👥 Who controls traffic movement?

A working group that daily monitors the road and transport situation operates at the Situation Center.
Its composition includes:
• Tashkent City YHTEM;
• the Main Department for the Development of Transport and Road Transport Infrastructure of Tashkent City;
• the Road Traffic Safety Department of the Public Security Service of the Tashkent City Main Internal Affairs Department;
• public transport dispatch services;
• representatives of engineering units, traffic modeling specialists, analysts, and programmers.

Together with local specialists, foreign experts are also analyzing the road and transport situation, studying the distribution of traffic flows, the causes of congestion, and the effectiveness of the measures being taken.

📈 Result of the first day of the new academic year

Despite a 30 percent increase in the number of cars:
✅ the congestion indicator remained at the level of 6 points;
✅ a sharp increase in congestion was not allowed;
✅ difficulties in traffic were promptly identified and the necessary measures were taken;
✅ important intersections were under constant control.

In the coming days, monitoring will continue in an enhanced mode. With the start of classes at higher education institutions, academic lyceums, technical schools, and other educational institutions, the transport load may gradually increase.