Chairman of the Private Carriers Association Ion Mamaliga denies that the Chisinau minibus drivers scheduled a strike for today, March 17. Contacted by IPN, Ion Mamaliga said the information appeared on social networking sites, but it’s not true.

In the March 17 meeting of officials of Chisinau services and divisions, acting head of the Public Transport and Communications Division Igor Gamretski said the two meetings with managers of minibus routes held last week didn’t result in an agreement. The drivers ask increasing the fare to 5 lei, but do not want to respect the passenger transportation rules agreed in 2012.

Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca asked the heads of the Chisinau Electric Transport Company and the Urban Bus Company how many units of transport can be put on routes if the minibus drivers go on strike. The two said there are 20 additional trolleybuses and 30 buses.

The drivers of minibuses running on routes in Chisinau demand that the fare should be raised from 3 lei to 5 lei. The issue is within the remit of the Chisinau Municipal Council.