ASHGABAT (TCA) — After banning the use of black vehicles, authorities in Turkmenistan seem to have decided to prohibit all other colors except white, the independent foreign-based news website Chronicles of Turkmenistan reports.
Correspondents of Chronicles of Turkmenistan report that until March motor vehicles of dark colors could be sold to the provinces, but now they are no longer registered there. In this connection the residents of the capital, Ashgabat, have to re-paint their vehicles.
The ban has caused a sharp increase in the fees for this service.
The average painting fee amounts to 18,000 manats – the equivalent to $5,143 according to the official rate (3.5 manats per $1) or $1,125 using the black market rate (16 manats per $1).
Small privately-owned car service centres charge 8,000–14,000 manats and there are some service stations which offer this service at 4,000–6,000 but the quality of painting will be lower.
Moreover, the capital is experiencing a shortage of white paint. If two months ago a 4,200-gram tin of white paint made in the UAE cost 1500 manats, in April the price soared 1.5 times. Сheaper China-made paints are also available.
Correspondents of Chronicles of Turkmenistan report that the residents of the capital would end up marking the Day of Ashgabat, which is celebrated on 25 May, driving exclusively white cars.
