Expert mathematically disproves threefold increase in Yerevan public transport fares
YEREVAN, 22 November. /ARKA/. Babken Pipoyan, Chairman of ‘Informed and Protected Consumer’ NGO, published a video on his Facebook page, in which he reasonably criticises Yerevan Municipality for a steep rise of public transport fares. The municipality explains it by the need to acquire new buses.
Pipoyan says that the the rolling stock consists of China-made Zhong Tong and Higer buses, the cost of which is $120 thousand, and the service life is 10 years. The calculations show that the cost price of the buses is $38.5 or 15 thousand drams per day, taking into account that they will be used 26 days a month.
In case of more expensive Germany-made buses, the cost of which is $360 thousand, it turns out that the cost of the buses is $115.5 or 45 thousand drams per day.
'Now we need to calculate how the cost of production affects the fare for a single journey. For small rolling stock it is realistic to take 600 people per trip, as the capacity and passenger flow of these rolling stock suggests this figure with slight deviations in one direction or another. We get the cost price of a bus at 25 drams per person per trip,’ Pipoyan said.
In the case of more expensive transport the situation is different, as the capacity of these buses is bigger.
‘If we look at the technical characteristics, these buses should carry twice as many passengers per day. But if we increase the flow not twice, but only a little bit more - up to 1000 people, we will see that the cost price for each person will be 45 drams, which is only 20 drams more expensive compared to cheaper buses. If we take into account the fact that the new rolling stock in the new transport network will be used 4 times less frequently, therefore less petrol will be used. We will see that with the new transport network, the operation of buses even at a cost of $360 thousand can not have a significant impact on the rise in transport prices’, - said the expert.
About unified ticket system
Now in Yerevan, one trip in bus and metro costs 100 drams, in trolleybus - 50 drams.
According to the city hall’s project, from January 1, 2025, travel tickets will cost
- daily package - 880 (900) drams
- weekly package - 4,800 (5,000) drams
- monthly package - 8,800 (9,000) drams
- 90-day package - 23 600 (24 000) drams
- annual package (365 days) - 88 800 (90 000) drams
When purchasing any tariff package, citizens will be able to use all types of public transport - buses, metro, trolleybuses. ($1 - 388.89 drams). -0-
