The drivers working on the municipal minibus route Chisinau-Cricova ask by 5 lei from passengers for a trip, by 0.50 lei more than before March 1. The route’s administrator said they returned to the fare set earlier by the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC), but the local authorities stated they weren’t informed about the rise.

The route’s administrator Vadim Popa explained that even if the CMC decided that the minibus fare should be raised to 5 lei, he decided to keep the fare at 4.50 lei, at the same level as the bus fare. Because the price of fuel later went up, he had to increase the fare to 5 lei, as the Council decided. Moreover, it’s easier for the drivers to give change now as they don’t have to count the bani.

Vitalie Butucel, deputy head of the General Public Transport and Communications Division, has told IPN that the administrator didn’t have the right to raise the fare without informing the municipal authorities. As no passenger complained, the Division will examine the issue by itself so as to see if there were reasons for increasing the fare.