The public transport in Chisinau municipality was to be organized in three-four years. But, owing to the latest protests by minibus drivers, the reorganization started and will end in two months, Mayor General of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca said in the program “Fabrika” on Publika TV channel, IPN reports.

“It’s impossible to keep the current system following the protests mounted by minibus drivers. It is a chain reaction. Though most of the drivers resumed work on routes, we can no longer go back,” stated the mayor.

According to Dorin Chirtoaca, the drivers’ demand to raise the minibus fare will not be satisfied. “The rise in the fare will not solve the problems and will not make the drivers more disciplined. After the fare was increased from 2 to 3 lei in 2006, the drivers didn’t become more disciplined. The problem resides in the system and this system must be changed,” said the mayor.

The minibuses will run only on routes connecting the suburban settlements and the capital city. By September 1, 2014, the public transport in Chisinau will be supplemented with 50 new trolleybuses and 70 new buses.

Marin Galusca, a minibus driver who phoned during the program, urged Dorin Chirtoaca to think twice before removing the minibuses. “We invested a lot of money in order to be able to work at home, near the family. Many of us still have to repay bank loans,” he said, accusing the mayor of favoring a Chisinau councilor of the Liberal Party, who purchased over 50 buses and intends to put them on routes in the capital city.

Dorin Chirtoaca assured that they will take the financial situation of the drivers who have to repay bank loans into account and will offer them jobs on other routes. As to the favoring of the business of a councilor, he said that this councilor bought the buses after he found out that the City Hall intends to remove the minibus routes.