The tariff in the public transport in Chisinau can be adjusted only if all the risks of fraud and stealing at the two municipal enterprises – the Electric Transport Company and the Urban Bus Company – are removed, said the PAS councilors on the Chisinau Municipal Council. They noted a complex functional and financial audit is needed to determine the real cost of a trip or any rise in fares will represent support for stealing and fraud, IPN reports.
According to the leader of the PAS councilors Roman Cojuhari, by presenting the methodology for calculating the tariff for trips in public transport, the City Hall at least started to implement the decision presented by PAS in the spring of 2020. But the proposed tariff of 6 lei is unreasonably high.
The councilor said that by that decision, a plan to renew the units of transport in the municipal transit system was approved. Besides purchasing new units of transport, the decision stipulates a number of measures to increase the quality of public transport, such as development of the network of dedicated lanes, revision of the route scheme, conducting of a functional and financial audit at the Electric Transport Company and the Urban Bus Company and implementation of e-ticketing.
“Regrettably, none of the aforementioned measures were implemented. Instead, Ion Ceban proudly presents a methodology by which he tries to persuade us that the fare for a trip should be 6 lei. He gives us as an example the fares in Cluj, Vilnius or Riga, but these cities ensured high-quality and convenient transport, electronic ticketing and transparency in the management of enterprise and also dedicated lanes,” stated Roman Cojuhari.
According to PAS, the GPS system should be installed in the units of transport as this will help to better organize the travel and will diminish crowdedness in stations at rush hour. The other measures stipulated in the decision should also be taken.
In a reaction, mayor Ion Ceban said that the election campaign started for some, including PAS, which is very active and, instead of working, disseminates all kinds of lies following the recent rises in prices. Owing to the political interests, including the statements witnessed now, the tariffs for trips by public transport haven’t been adjusted and Chisinau has the lowest fares in all the cities and countries and experts confirm this.
Ion Ceban noted that the methodology for calculating the tariff for trips by public transport in Chisinau was worked out and presented by experts and was published. The study experts proposed a formula for determining the reference value where the tariff cannot be higher than 0.06% of the gross average official salary set by the Government, with adjustment once in two years. But the municipality lays emphasis on the purchase of season tickets by those who travel daily as the fare in this case is lower.
According to the mayor, all those interested can take part in the consultations held at present. Recommendations on the draft decision proposed for debates can be sent by April 15 to the email address: dirtrans@pmc.md, presented on the phone numbers: 022-204-687 and 022-204-662 or to: Chisinau, 17 S. Lazo St, the General Transport and Communications Division.
The municipality proposed a fare of 6 lei per trip by public transport, both buses and trolleybuses, in Chisinau and its suburbs. If one buys season tickets, the fare will be lower.
