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COMPANIES THREATEN TO HALT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IF FARE IS NOT RAISED
11.07.2013 20:16 epress.am
Heads of transportation companies held a protest today outside Yerevan
City Hall, demanding to accelerate the work of the commission dealing
with transportation issues and increase the public transportation
fare as soon as possible; otherwise, they promise to resort to
"radical" actions.
Company managers said they will wait three days for a clear answer
and then hold discussions, and if their needs are not met, they
are prepared to stop serving public transportation routes. Note, in
Armenia, public transportation routes are served by private companies.
Hayk Yeghiazaryan, chair of the union of transport carriers of Armenia,
in conversation with Epress.am, said their patience has run out, and
they can no longer meet transportation needs under the current rate
(which is 100 AMD, about $0.25).
"Raising the fare is unavoidable, and if things continue as they
are, tomorrow we will walk the walk. Whatever reserves we had are all
exhausted; everyone is mired in debt and cannot buy tires or batteries,
undergo inspection or repair, or pay property tax or compulsory car
insurance. We've reached a dead end; there's nowhere to go anymore," he
said, promising that after the fare is increased, business plans will
be presented, loans will be drawn, and a new fleet will be acquired.
"Minibuses won't be overloaded; with a new fleet we will serve our
people in a more civilized fashion. Minibuses will be replaced with
large-capacity buses. Then you won't ride crowded but standing or
sitting," said the chair of the union.
According to him, they didn't hold protests in the past because
they are "working people," but they learned to hold protests from
activists. "There's something to learn from everyone, and today we
used this choice of struggle."
Tigran Hovhannisyan, chair of the bus drivers' defense league, in turn,
told Epress.am that representatives of several NGOs earlier discussed
the demands put forth by the transportation companies and said that
they're convinced that such conduct is a mere formality.
"They're saying this is staged by the municipality: 'Come and protest
in front of us,' they say. Halting public transportation service for
even one hour is ruled out, and if that happens then the mayor must
resign," said Hovhannisyan.
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/11/07/companies-threaten-to-halt-public-transportation-if-fare-is-not-raised.html
11.07.2013 20:16 epress.am
Heads of transportation companies held a protest today outside Yerevan
City Hall, demanding to accelerate the work of the commission dealing
with transportation issues and increase the public transportation
fare as soon as possible; otherwise, they promise to resort to
"radical" actions.
Company managers said they will wait three days for a clear answer
and then hold discussions, and if their needs are not met, they
are prepared to stop serving public transportation routes. Note, in
Armenia, public transportation routes are served by private companies.
Hayk Yeghiazaryan, chair of the union of transport carriers of Armenia,
in conversation with Epress.am, said their patience has run out, and
they can no longer meet transportation needs under the current rate
(which is 100 AMD, about $0.25).
"Raising the fare is unavoidable, and if things continue as they
are, tomorrow we will walk the walk. Whatever reserves we had are all
exhausted; everyone is mired in debt and cannot buy tires or batteries,
undergo inspection or repair, or pay property tax or compulsory car
insurance. We've reached a dead end; there's nowhere to go anymore," he
said, promising that after the fare is increased, business plans will
be presented, loans will be drawn, and a new fleet will be acquired.
"Minibuses won't be overloaded; with a new fleet we will serve our
people in a more civilized fashion. Minibuses will be replaced with
large-capacity buses. Then you won't ride crowded but standing or
sitting," said the chair of the union.
According to him, they didn't hold protests in the past because
they are "working people," but they learned to hold protests from
activists. "There's something to learn from everyone, and today we
used this choice of struggle."
Tigran Hovhannisyan, chair of the bus drivers' defense league, in turn,
told Epress.am that representatives of several NGOs earlier discussed
the demands put forth by the transportation companies and said that
they're convinced that such conduct is a mere formality.
"They're saying this is staged by the municipality: 'Come and protest
in front of us,' they say. Halting public transportation service for
even one hour is ruled out, and if that happens then the mayor must
resign," said Hovhannisyan.
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/11/07/companies-threaten-to-halt-public-transportation-if-fare-is-not-raised.html