About 600 interurban routes are suspended today until 2:00 p.m as transport operators have brought in minibuses and buses to the Grand National Assembly Square to demand an increase in fares.
Oleg Alexa, president of the Employers Association of Transport Operators and Road Workers, told IPN that the 600 routes cover the district and interdistrict network across the country and they represent 15% of the total number of daily routes.
The operators and drivers are asking for a fare increase from 0.48 to 0.92 leu per km.
On Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure issued a press release stating that the Government disapproves the operators’ decision to stage the strike. The Government believes that passengers must be provided with civilized travel conditions, and minibuses and buses intended exclusively for passenger transportation. Only after drivers meet the requirements can they request fare increases.