14 minibus route administrators demand increasing fares

14 of the 19 administrators of minibus routes submitted applications to the Chisinau City Hall, asking that the fares be increased, the head of the General Public Transport and Communications Division Adrian Boldurescu has told Info-Prim Neo. The possibility of raising fares is not yet investigated as not all the carriers filed relevant applications. When the other five administrators make such requests, calculations will be done and the subject will be discussed within the City Hall’s Transport Division and the commissions of the Municipal Council. Adrian Boldurescu said that before the issue of fares is raised, there must be examined the conditions in which the drivers work. “Initially, we must bring things in the transport sector in order so that services of a high quality are provided. Afterward, we will consider increasing fares,” he stated. At the start of March, minibus owners and drivers said they will stop work and will go on strike because the fuel prices increased and they sustain losses given that the fares remained unchanged. The carriers demanded raising the fare from 3 lei to almost 7 lei. Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca said earlier that if the fare is increased, it will be at most 5 lei.