Passengers entitled to free travel on Chisinau trolleybuses will be able to use their old passes until the end of this month. Starting February, they will have to replace them with new ones or pay the fare.

Gheorghe Morgoci, the head of the Electric Transport Company, has told IPN that new passes were supposed to take effect on 1 January 2015, but since many failed to replace the old ones, it has been decided to extend the date by one month. Those entitled to free travel on trolleybuses are asked to apply for new passes at the municipal social assistance offices.

Gheorghe Morgoci said that some 21,000 free passes are issued annually. Beneficiaries include pensioners and other groups with incomes under 1,450 lei and who renounce cash compensation for traveling in the urban transport system.

The new passes contain enhanced security features and have changed their color from blue to red.

The full price of a monthly ticket is 180 lei. About 10,000 passengers, including students and pensioners, are entitled to a discounted price of 70 lei.