Minibus owners criticize mayor’s decision to change routes

The decision of Vasile Ursu, the temporary mayor of Chisinau, to change the routes of the public minibuses from Puskin Str. to Eminescu Str. was met with discontent by the route’s administration, which have stated that even though the change is necessary, it can only be done after producing an extensive research. Mihai Reus, the head of “Renta transport privat” LTD - a company that administrates several routes, states that the decision to ban the minibuses from the Puskin street will discommode the citizens. As the quoted source thinks, the local authorities have no right to decide for the population what transport to pick. Moreover, such a decision will ensure privileges to state transport, and this directly violates the anti-monopole principles. Another administrator, Vasile Margarint from “Asoio” LTD, thinks that this decision will affect the most the pupils and students from “Gh. Asachi” lyceum and State University. According to him, M. Eminescu Street is not the best candidate for re-routing the transport. The lack of special parking spots and the private vehicles parked on both sides of the road will create traffic jams, and this will hamper the passenger to make it in time to their destination. Ion Mamaliga, municipal councilor, claims that the changes are required, but not in the presented form. “M. Eminescu Street has a low traffic capacity, and is already overloaded. If the approximately 300 minibuses will be transferred from Puskin Street, the passenger will find himself in never-ending traffic jams” has mentioned Mr. Mamaliga. According to the Councilor, The Department of Public Transport and Communications should elaborate a new circulation scheme for the Chisinau’s public transport, which in turn should be approved by the Chisinau Municipal Council. Starting September 1st, the minibuses from Puskin Street will be redirected to Eminescu Street. A disposal will be issued shortly and will be signed by the interim mayor in the absence of the municipal councilors, which at this moment are on leave. In November 2005, through a similar decision of the Chisinau Mayoralty, 18 minibus routes were redirected from St. cel Mare blvd. to adjacent streets.