EXPERTS: RISE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARE IN YEREVAN IS ECONOMIC THEFT
by Erik Abrahamyan
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=5B7DDC10-F3A3-11E2-AAA40EB7C0D21663
Tuesday, July 23, 18:22
The rise in the public transport fare in Yerevan is the result of the
ruling regime's greed and shortsightedness, expert harutyun Mesrobyan
told journalists on Tuesday.
"In case of a product you can use less if it grows in price, but you
cannot pay 75 AMD to go just half of your way. So, here one must be
very careful," Mersobyan said.
In her turn, Head of the Protection of Consumers' Rights NGO Lusine
Yagubyan pointed out the low quality of public transport services
in Yerevan.
She said that once the new academic year starts, the problem will
become even more acute as students will not be able to pay the
new fare.
Yagubyan's deputy Karen Chilingaryan said that the Chinese buses used
in Yerevan are not profitable - though being much smaller than the
buses used in Europe, they consumer much more fuel.
"Municipal transport must be owned by municipal authorities rather
than private proprietors. In many countries people enjoy discounts. In
Georgia students pay half of the fare, poor people just 10 GEL (20-25
AMD), while schoolchildren and disabled people do not pay anything
at all," Chilingaryan said.-0-
by Erik Abrahamyan
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=5B7DDC10-F3A3-11E2-AAA40EB7C0D21663
Tuesday, July 23, 18:22
The rise in the public transport fare in Yerevan is the result of the
ruling regime's greed and shortsightedness, expert harutyun Mesrobyan
told journalists on Tuesday.
"In case of a product you can use less if it grows in price, but you
cannot pay 75 AMD to go just half of your way. So, here one must be
very careful," Mersobyan said.
In her turn, Head of the Protection of Consumers' Rights NGO Lusine
Yagubyan pointed out the low quality of public transport services
in Yerevan.
She said that once the new academic year starts, the problem will
become even more acute as students will not be able to pay the
new fare.
Yagubyan's deputy Karen Chilingaryan said that the Chinese buses used
in Yerevan are not profitable - though being much smaller than the
buses used in Europe, they consumer much more fuel.
"Municipal transport must be owned by municipal authorities rather
than private proprietors. In many countries people enjoy discounts. In
Georgia students pay half of the fare, poor people just 10 GEL (20-25
AMD), while schoolchildren and disabled people do not pay anything
at all," Chilingaryan said.-0-