xxxxxxMayor Taron Margarian suspends decision on transport fare increase

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margarian made a statement to Yerevan residents, informing them about the suspension of the decision about an increase in public transport fares.

“It was difficult for me to take the decision about establishing the fare at 150 drams. But I am very much aware that I have no right to avoid undesirable decisions, understanding that we may pay for all this with human lives. A few years later I would not forgive myself, no one would forgive. This decision is not the end, but a beginning of a long process,” the statement reads.
The mayor noted that complete upgrading of the vehicle fleet, introduction of a unified payment system, improvement of the safety level, creation of efficient mechanisms of a targeted policy for vulnerable groups are all problems that need urgent solution. “A fare of 150 drams is the price for resolution of all these problems, and unfortunately we have to pay it. There is no alternative,” the Yerevan mayor said.

According to the statement,” it is obvious that we cannot place the burden of the fare hikes on those social groups, for which we have envisaged preferential terms within the framework of the unified payment system. The establishment of the system will take about a year, while the decision taken places already today the burden on pensioners, students and members of vulnerable sections of the population.

I gave instructions to set up a commission of experts and interested persons. Within a few months, the commission will develop mechanisms to make the Decision on Revision of the City Transport Fares efficient, and prior to that, the decision will be suspended by me”.