In the municipality of Chisinau, about 20,000 persons benefit from the right to travel free by public units of transport, such as trolleybuses and buses, except for children younger than seven, who enjoy the same benefit. Compared with the situation five years ago, the number of beneficiaries increased, the General Public Transport and Communications Division said in a repose to an inquiry made by IPN News Agency.
A number of 14 categories of people are entitled to free trips by public transport, namely: local elected officials, police employees, border police officers, employees of the Information and Security Service, State Guard and Protection Service and Customs Service, members of the people’s guard registered in Chisinau municipality (while on duty, with the brassard on and by presenting the permit and membership insignia), citizens awarded the Order of the Republic, Heroes of the Soviet Union, persons awarded the three degree-rank orders “Slava”; war veterans and war-disabled people, including participants in the Afghanistan war and war for defending the territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Moldova, permanent voluntary blood donors and the citizens of honor of Chisinau municipality.
During the past two years, the list was extended by four categories of beneficiaries, such as the persons subject to political repression, employees of the State Ecological Inspectorate, employees of the State Service of Special Couriers and public functionaries with a special status at the Ministry of the Interior.
Since 2016, the persons who receive transport compensations can travel by municipal public transport based on an annual season ticket issued by the Electric Transport Company. For the purpose, they should write an application to renounce the transport compensation in favor of the annual season ticket.
The compensation is paid to pensioners and persons with disabilities, except for those who are employed and carry out entrepreneurial activities, whose monthly income does not exceed 2,000 lei.
A sum of 62 million lei was allocated this year to the General Social Assistance and Health Division from the municipal budget for providing transport compensations or paying for season tickets for free trips by public transport. This is by 5 million lei more than a year before.
