The Chisinau City Hall has announced the start of the e-ticking pilot project in public transport in the municipality. During the next two-three months, the necessary electronic equipment will be installed and employees of the municipal transport companies will be trained. Afterward, the system will be piloted during a period of up to six months, IPN reports.

Mayor of Chisinau Ion Ceban said the testing will be performed by the companies MasterCard and VISA, which will cover all the incurred costs. Two memorandums with the administration of the two companies were signed so as to launch the cooperation with the municipal public transport companies. The General Public Transport and Communications Division, the Chisinau Electric Transport Company and the Urban Bus Company are to sign contracts with the operators providing electronic ticketing services so as to implement the pilot project on one or two bus and trolleybus routes. The routes haven’t been specified.

On November 16, the Chisinau City Hall said the testing of e-ticketing in public transport in the municipality will start on January 1, but this didn’t happen.

It has been ten years since the municipal authorities announced the intention to introduce e-ticketing in public transport. In 2010, the Chisinau City Hall said the citizens of the capital city will pay for trips by public transport by an electronic card starting with 2012. Later the local authorities announced delays and new deadlines.