site.btaFree Public Transport for Children under 14 as of February 1, 2024

The Council of Ministers has adopted changes to the ordinance that regulates the amount of subsidies and compensations for bus services, Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeikov told a news conference on Wednesday. An amount of nearly 330 million of the 2024 state budget will be allocated for public transport, he added.

In Gvozdeikov's words, a total of BGN 141 million will be allocated for public transport discounts, while BGN 188 million is earmarked for subsidies for interurban transport links.

As of February 1, 2024, public transport will be free of charge for children under the age of 14. Currently, it is free for children under the age of 7.

"Children under the age of 7 will continue to travel free on interurban transport. Children aged 7 to 14 will travel on interurban transport at a 50% discount. Previously, this only applied to children aged 7 to 10. The compulsory discount of the regular price of tickets for public transport and interurban bus lines for pensioners and students, which is also provided for by the state budget, will increase by 50%. Until now, these discounts ranged between 20% and 30%, depending on the category and type of travel. A new group of citizens entitled [to a discount] has been added - persons with disabilities and reduced working capacity up to 70%. They will travel with a minimum discount of 25%," Gvozdeikov explained.

All changes will enter into force on February 1, 2024, he added.