PASSENGER TRANSPORTERS TO RALLY FOR DEMANDING TARIFF RAISING

Representatives of transport companies will organize a new protest on Wednesday due to the authorities’ reluctance to raise tariff on passenger transportation.

The Association of Employers of Road Transport Operators (APOTA) stated that at least 250 minibuses will gather in the Chisinau main square in front of the Government, 200 more – in raion centers. Thus, a number of routes will be cancelled on this day.

According to APOTA Council Chairman Oleg Alex, the transporters’ demands remain the same – to raise the tariff to 0.92 lei per 1 km from the 0.48 lei, which was established back in 2012.

Transporters maintain that the delay with this decision leads to branch destruction.

“We daily suffer losses, while road movement safety and the quality of passenger servicing leaves much to be desired. We lack drivers, because we are unable to ensure decent salary to them, we have old fleet of vehicles, because revenues do not allow us renewing it, we do not have locksmiths, mechanics and welders, because they resign to go abroad to seek better future”, transporters complained.

They addressed to the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure with a demand to revise tariffs back in August, though in vain. This statement was signed by 103 transport organizations of the republic.

As Infotag has already reported, after the first protest on September 12 the ministry said it is ready to dialog with transporters, but demands a clear action plan, including gradual correction of prices, raking into account citizens’ capacity to pay. Besides, before raising tariffs, transporters have to renew the vehicle fleet and raise the quality of the provided services.