Season tickets for students and pupils were withdrawn from sale

Prime-minister Vasile Tarlev issued on Thursday, August 31, an order for the City Hall of Chisinau to review at once the prices of season tickets for students and pupils, as the prices were increased without reason. Prime Minister also ordered to halt, starting with September 1, the sale of season tickets at the new prices. The City Hall of Chisinau denies the accusations that the prices for season tickets have been increased without solid grounds. According to Vice-mayor Veaceslav Iordan, the prices of the season tickets have been calculated considering the new public transport ticket prices, approved by the Municipal Council of Chisinau. Iordan also mentioned the City Hall will demand the Electric Transport Management (RTEC) and the City Bus Fleet (PUA) to withdraw from sale the tickets that haven’t been sold. According to Iordan, until September 1, 86% of the season tickets were already bought. The local authorities do not agree with decrease of the season tickets prices without a compensation of the financial loss by the Executive. Veaceslav Iordan also declared that if the prices are decreased, municipal companies will lose by the end of this year MDL 19 mln. The problem of the season tickets will be discussed in the first meeting of the Municipal Council of Chisinau, scheduled for September. According to the vice-mayor, the City Hall will suggest decreasing the prices of the season tickets for students and pupils with the financial support of the Government destined to cover the expenses handled by the municipality. The director of PUA, Anatol Gheorghita confirmed that according to the City Hall’s decision, starting September 1 the season tickets have been withdrawn from sale. The head of PUA claims the prices of the commutation tickets for students and pupils went up together with the price of a regular ticket. According to Gheorghita, it must be taken into consideration that the autobuses transport passengers at distances reaching 30 km, and the subscription tickets are valid on urban routes as well as suburban ones. Moreover, the prices of MDL 55 for a pupil’s season ticket and of MDL 75 for a student season ticket cover only 27.5% and 37.2%, respectively, of the trip’s price. At the end of August, the prices for adult’s season ticket for autobus travel have doubled and are now MDL 130. Pupil’s season tickets increased in price by MDL 20 and are now MDL 55, and for students the increase was MDL 30, the price being MDL 75. A season ticket for trolleybus for pupils costs MDL 50, the subscription for students cost MDL 75, and adults will have to pay MDL 120 monthly. Previously, the prices were MDL 22, MDL 33 and MDL 50 respectively.