The maxi-taxi operators of Chisinau asked again to raise the fares. According to the data they presented to the municipality, the minibus fare should be raised to 9.81 lei. Contacted by IPN for a comment, chairman of the Board of the Employers Association of Motor Transport Operators Oleg Alexa said they expect the subject will be raised in the February 10 meeting of officials of Chisinau services and divisions. If no measures are taken during the next few weeks, the carriers will mount protests and will withdraw minibuses from particular routes.

On the other hand, if the fare is raised, the carriers will undertake to improve the work conditions. They will reduce the intervals between routes, will implement a control system to see how the timetables are respected and will impose stricter requirements concerning the etheric aspect and cleanness inside vehicles. When financial resources are accumulated, the vehicles will be replaced with new, more comfortable and safer ones.

The previous request to raise fares was made to the local authorities on January 13. A number of 780 minibuses run on routes in Chisinau at present. The current fare of 3 lei was set in 2006.