The Municipality Council of Chisinau could raise tariffs in public transport

The Municipality Council of Chisinau (MCC) could raise the prices for one trolleybus ride up to 1, 5 lei and for the bus ride up to 2 lei. A recommendation upon this decision was voted at the joint meeting of two specialized committees from the MCC – the energy, technical services, transportation and communication committee and the special committee for public transport tariff problem, created several months ago. At the debates, the chief of the general department for public transport and communication ways of MCC, Veceslav Terna, cited by Info-Prim Neo informed that the present prices generate wastages for the transport companies, a fact that could lead to the additional allocation of 100 million lei till the end of the year. The municipal councillor Viorel Topa, said that the role of MCC is to set up regulations, to give licences and elaborate conditions, not to cover expenses. In the same context, he pleaded for the privatization of the Urban Park of Buses and of the Administration of Trolleybuses from the capital. The councillors postponed the examination of the price for the ride with minibuses till the end of this months or the beginning of May, despite the fact that it could bring to the reorientation of some categories of passengers towards the minibus service and, as a result, to affect the balance established until now. By now the problem of tariff increase for all types of passenger transport was discussed for several times, but its solution has always been postponed. A part of the councillors motivated their irresoluteness with the concern for the public money. Another part foresees political overtones, blaming their colleagues for populism and incapacity to assume the responsibility for political decisions. According to the present legislation, the decisions regarding the tariffs can be taken exclusively by the Municipality Council of Chisinau.