If the protests continue and the minibuses do not run, the Chisinau City Hall will start to amend the timetables of municipal schools, kindergartens and institutions so as to ease the flow of passengers during rush hour, mayor Ion Ceban announced in the February 24 meeting of officials of Chisinau services and subdivisions, IPN reports.
Ion Ceban said an option they consider is for the Urban Bus Company to contract private minibuses and buses. Today, the number of buses and minibuses and their frequency was increased. “We ask all the employers, regardless of the institution, either public or private, to be tolerant toward the inferiors who will be late for work,” he stated, noting the minibus fare will not be raised until all the necessary conditions are created.
He enumerated among the conditions the respecting of timetables, stopping only in stations, releasing of tickets. As to the carriers’ demand to be given subsidies, the mayor said this can happen only when a contract for the provision of public transport services is signed with the Chisinau City Hall.
According to recent reports, the minibuses running on 24 routes weren’t available today. Minibuses No. 19 have been running. The mayor noted that a part of the suspended routes are managed by “Iurie Topală, Oleg Alexa and othersi”. He requested to analyze today the possibility of terminating contracts with these operators and to notify the law enforcement agencies of the activity carried out by these operators.
The carriers that manage minibus routes in Chisinau announced a protest for February 24, until 10am. These demand that the municipality should raise the minibus fare or should partially cover their costs by providing subsidies to them.
