Public transport fares in Yerevan may rise
09.01.2018,
17:38
The cost of traveling by public transport in Armenian capital Yerevan may rise in 2018, the head of the Consumer Consultation Center Karen Chilingaryan said on Tuesday.
YEREVAN, January 9. /ARKA/. The cost of traveling by public transport in Armenian capital Yerevan may rise in 2018, the head of the Consumer Consultation Center Karen Chilingaryan said on Tuesday. Speaking to a news conference he said the possible rise would be triggered by an increase in the excise tax on compressed gas used by public transport in Armenia. The cost of a trip by a bus or mini-bus in Yerevan is now 100 drams (about US25 cents).
From January 2018 the excise tax on compressed gas has increased from 8,330 drams (about $17) to 25,000 drams (about $50) per one thousand cubic meters. The excise tax on diesel fuel has been reduced from 32,500 ($66) to 13,000 drams (about $26) per one ton, but VAT has been imposed.
Citing the example of the neighboring Georgia he said there is an opportunity to curb the rise in prices for public transport.
"In Tbilisi, the cost of a bus and metro ticket for a single travel is 50 tetris (US 19 cents) and 80 tetris ( US 31 cents) for a travel by a mini-bus, but the metro and bus network is much wider there. Besides, the cost of the second and third travel per day is reduced. How do they do it? The government subsidizes the public transport, "Chilingaryan said.
He also said that in the capital of Georgia, students and pensioners pay 40% of the cost of a travel, and schoolchildren do not pay at all. Chilingaryan urged the authorities to study the experience of their Georgian counterparts.
Public transport fares have not changed in Yerevan since the mid-2000s. In 2013, the decision of the Yerevan Municipality to raise the public transport fares from 100 to 150 drams provoked mass public protests making the authorities to cancel the decision. -0-
From January 2018 the excise tax on compressed gas has increased from 8,330 drams (about $17) to 25,000 drams (about $50) per one thousand cubic meters. The excise tax on diesel fuel has been reduced from 32,500 ($66) to 13,000 drams (about $26) per one ton, but VAT has been imposed.
Citing the example of the neighboring Georgia he said there is an opportunity to curb the rise in prices for public transport.
"In Tbilisi, the cost of a bus and metro ticket for a single travel is 50 tetris (US 19 cents) and 80 tetris ( US 31 cents) for a travel by a mini-bus, but the metro and bus network is much wider there. Besides, the cost of the second and third travel per day is reduced. How do they do it? The government subsidizes the public transport, "Chilingaryan said.
He also said that in the capital of Georgia, students and pensioners pay 40% of the cost of a travel, and schoolchildren do not pay at all. Chilingaryan urged the authorities to study the experience of their Georgian counterparts.
Public transport fares have not changed in Yerevan since the mid-2000s. In 2013, the decision of the Yerevan Municipality to raise the public transport fares from 100 to 150 drams provoked mass public protests making the authorities to cancel the decision. -0-
