Increased tariffs in urban transport favor transporters - NGO

The decision to increase the tariffs in urban passenger transport of the capital, starting August 1, was approved by Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC), with many infringements, the chairman of the Association „Casa Noastra-Chisinau” (CNC), Oleg Oniscenco claims. He stated at a press conference on Tuesday that CMC has voted the decision without a thorough survey of the passenger transportation system and without an appropriate financial report regarding the situation of the public transportation, as well as lacking economic argues in favor of the increase. According to him, this increase was operated only in transporters’ favor, without taking into account its impact upon Chisinau citizens with modest incomes. Therefore, Oniscenco highlighted that neither the salaries, nor the retirement allowances, nor the scholarships were increased, and the transportation tariff increase will affect all the social groups – from pupils to retired people. CNC will address a petition to the Municipal Council in order to create a commission comprising civil servants and representatives of the civil society, to make a financial audit of the reasonable and efficient use of public money. In Onisenco’s opinion, the transportation tariffs will continue to boost as long as this system is managed inefficiently. Oniscenco gave examples of other capitals, where the urban transportation is maintained not on passengers’ account, but from the local budget. This branch, Oniscenco claims, should not work for incomes purposes, but to ensure quality services for citizens. According to him, in Chisinau, the increase in price didn’t result in improving the quality of the transportation services. The urban public transportation is in a very disastrous technical condition, the transportation units have no insurance, and if accidents happen, the driver is the only one liable, and not the insurance companies, Oniscenco mentioned. Starting August 1, the cost of a trolleybus ticket in the capital is of 1 leu, a bus ticket – 2 lei and minibus – 3 lei.