Yerevan public transport system needs reform
Speaking at a press conference today, prompted by an explosion in a bus on Monday evening in Yerevan that killed two people and wounded seven others, Babken Pipoyan, head of a non-governmental organization called ‘Informed and Protected Consumer” said a centralized public transport system must be set up for the capital city and a level playing field for all owners of public transport companies.
He said a study conducted by his NGO in 2013 showed that during rush hours minibuses are overcrowded unlike buses.
‘It turns out that one type of public transport transports three times more passengers a day than the other. This means also the costs are the same for all, while revenues significantly differ," Pipoyan said.
But according to Aharon Adibekyan, head of a polling center in Yerevan, reforms in the public transport system will push fares up
"Each route must be served by a doctor to examine drivers and a mechanic to look after vehicles. When we calculated all the costs it appeared that the fares, if companies comply with these requirements, would double to 200 drams," he said.
The other problem, according to Adibekyan, is that no new buses are brought in to replace the old ones.
“The increase in fares will be a painful blow on some segments of the population who live in very poor socio-economic conditions. Therefore, we have a kind of vicious circle", he said.-0-