Tens of thousands of lei of those that the passengers pay for trips by public units of transport do not reach the budgets of the public transport enterprises of Chisinau. The implementation of the electronic taxation system would enable to fill this gap. Moreover, about 40 million lei would be saved a year. This is the amount spent to pay salaries to conductors at present.
In a public debate on the draft electronic taxation decision held at the Chisinau City Hall, deputy head of the Public Transport and Communications Division Vitalie Butucel said the passengers will have an intelligent card with which they will pay for the trip. During an hour, they will be able to change several units of transport of the same type without paying additionally. If they change the trolleybus for bus, they will pay only 1 leu and will thus pay a total of 3 lei, which is the current bus fare. The cards would be refilled through electronic terminals or at specially set up places.
The conductors will work for at most 12 more months after the electronic taxation system is introduced so as to ensure more efficient transition. All the revenues after the system is implemented will be collected directly into the accounts of the operators, which are the Chisinau Electric Transport Company and the Urban Bus Company.
Chisinau Electric Transport Company director Gheorghe Morgoci said the company has been ready to introduce the new system since 2012, but is waiting for the authorities’ decision. “The human factor should be swiftly removed from the money collection process. For the purpose, the Chisinau Council should only take the given decision and should empower a person who would be responsible for the implementation of the project. These are our expectations,” he stated.
Director of the Urban Bus Company Iacob Capcelea said the project is beneficial because it will make the business entities that provide transport services more disciplined and will ensure the supervision of trips and the collected money.
Eugen Gutu, of a national payment service provider, suggested implementing IT systems in the payment collection process, including through QR codes.
If the draft decision is approved by the Chisinau Municipal Council, an international tender contest will be held to choose the company that will develop this system in the public transport network of Chisinau. If the project is implemented directly, it will cost 120 million lei, according to a study made in 2013. Gheorghe Morgoci estimated that this money would be recouped in about four years.
The second public debate on the issue will be held on October 9.
