The head of the Employers’ Association of Motor Transport Operators (APOTA) Oleg Alexa believes that the bus stations must return under state management. The first steps in this regard were taken by the Public Property Agency in 2022, but, after the institution’s leadership changed, things have been stagnant.
In a news conference hosted by IPN, Oleg Alexa explained that in August 2022, the Public Property Agency (PPA) announced that the investment program was not respected by the private partner “Gările Auto Moderne” (“Modern Auto Stations”) and terminated the contract with it. At that time, the person who headed the Agency took the first right step in the direction of fighting the groups of oligarchs who took over the management of the bus stations.
Subsequently, the PPA developed an action plan and within two months, until December 1, 2022, the bus stations were already supposed to start operating as state-owned enterprises. In the meantime, the head of the PPA resigned. The next head of the PPA also resigned and then Roman Cojuhari was appointed head of the institution, who still holds this position. Things then started to be intentionally delayed. “It is clear that they act jointly with the Vîlcu-Andronachi group,” said Oleg Alexa, insisting that the Vîlcu-Andronachi group now owns most of the bus stations in Chisinau and district centers.
According to Oleg Alexa, the PPA showed that it has enough and professionally trained staff to take over an airport, without disrupting the routes, suggesting that it could do this with the Bus Stations. Even if it meets with resistance on the part of the Vîlcu-Andronachi group when taking over the stations, it does not mean that regular passenger transport routes will be suspended. The carriers will continue to serve passengers.
He also said that in his discussions with Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu, about bus stations, fares and the role of stations in the sector, he noted that nothing has been done for three years and the Vîlcu-Andronachi group was allowed to rob and squeeze the transport sector much as it wants.
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