site.btaSofia Municipal Council Approves Increase of Public Transport Fare

Sofia Municipal Council Approves Increase of Public Transport Fare

Sofia, April 14 (BTA) - The Sofia Municipal Council Thursday approved an increase of the public transport fare in Sofia to 1.60 leva from the current 1 lev for a single ride. The increase is valid from June 1.

The controversial decision was supported by the ruling GERB party and five councilors from the Right-wing Reformist Bloc.

A week ago all political forces in the Municipal Council but GERB were against the proposed increase of the fare.

The opponents argue that the increase is unjustified on the backdrop of record-low fuel prices and the fact that most improvements in the public transport system in Sofia have been financed with EU money.

The councilors also decided that a book of 10 tickets will appreciate from 8 to 12 leva. The prices of travel passes will remain unchanged. The fare evasion fine will be doubled, from 20 to 40 leva, and the penal decree for refusal to pay the fine from 100 to 200 leva.

The reasoning for the increase was that it will encourage the use of travel passes, which remain unchanged. Also, three new types of travel passes will be put in circulation. One is a monthly pass for the metro and one bus line which will cost 43 leva a month. The second is a three-day travel pass for all lines for 10 leva. The third is a three-day for all lines and free admission for some cultural and historical sites, and a discount for some stores. This combined pass will be available at a later stage as talks are still underway with the National Archarological Museum, the Sofia City Art Gallery, the National Museum of Military History, the National Museum of Natural History and the Vrana Park.

The decision was made amid chants from protestors organized outside the Municipal Council by the Bulgarian Socialist Party.