DUSHANBE, October 19, Asia-Plus - In January-September 2006, more than 29.8 million tons of cargo, according to the State Committee for Statistics.

Over the same nine-month period, some 2,000 tons of air cargo was shipped, 30.8 percent less than in January-September 2005. 

Automotive transportation carried 19.8 million tons of cargo in the past nine months. 

 All types of transportation carried some 296.8 million passengers, 3.2 percent more than in the first three quarters of last year.

Over the past nine months, 539,700 people traveled by rail (108.3 percent of January-September 2005) and 311,800 by air (81.3 percent of January-September 2005).

In January-September 2006, auto transportation of the ministries and departments conveyed 279.2 million passengers, which is 1.7 percent more compared to the same period of last year.