Modern Transport Program launched in Moldova

Chisinau, 16 Feb. / MOLDPRES /- Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIDR) has launched the Modern Transport Program. Details were presented today at a news conference by Deputy Prime Minister, MIDR head Andrei Spinu.

"The program sets higher standards for road passenger transport services and contains several measures that will lay the foundations for a partnership between the authorities and transport operators, for the direct benefit of the people. When elaborating this program, we took into account the interest of the people as a priority ", said Spinu.

Among the actions included in the plan are: the development of a national program to support carriers for the renewal of the car fleet; changing the methodology for calculating fares for passengers and bus services; combating illicit passenger transport; route optimization; elaboration of the mobility strategy.

"The 'Modern Transport' program is a courageous one, meant to rule and change this field, and for people to benefit from safe, comfortable and accessible transport services. Or, the tariff paid for the transport services should be a fair one, both for the people and for the operators. We will make real efforts, as they have not done before, but we also expect the operators to be ready to increase their investments and to have more respect for the beneficiaries ", he said.

According to the official, a program will be launched in the field of transport to fight fraud and illicit routes, with the involvement of the General Inspectorate of Police, the Fiscal Service, the National Agency for Transport (ANTA).

At the same time, Spinu said that already today he will sign the order to appoint a new deputy to ANTA who will take care of this program, as well as the digitization of the sector.

Also, the Minister of Infrastructure specified that the new tariffs will be stipulated in another MIDR order and that they will be applied differently, depending on the status, direction, itinerary, etc. "Public transport fares will increase, starting with March 1, by 10 bani for one km on national routes and by a maximum of 20 bani / km in the case of district routes", the quoted source specified.

The Modern Transport program was launched after a series of protests by carriers demanding an increase in ticket prices, as well as as a result of several rounds of negotiations between central authorities and transport operators.