Yerevan Mayor refutes April 1 transport fare hike rumors

PanARMENIAN.Net - Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan refuted the media-spread rumors on transport fare hike to be imposed starting April 1.

He officially confirmed that no increase was in order, urging media to refrain from unfounded predictions.

"The public transport fare is unlikely to be raised in Yerevan by the end of this year," the head of Association of Consumers of Armenia Armen Poghosyan said on February 1, ARKA reported.

On July 20, 2013, public transport fare in Yerevan was increased from AMD 100 (24.4 cents) to AMD 150 (36.5 cents) flaring 6-day protests under “Won’t Pay 150” slogan. Later, Yerevan Mayor canceled the decision, instructing to set up a commission to review intracity transport fare.

Poghosyan was skeptical that the municipality would increase the fare considering last year’s protests.

However, Poghosyan was displeased with the work of the commission which avoids public discussions on the issue and refrains from reporting on the results of its activity.

On January 30, Armenia’s minister of transport and communication Gagik Beglaryan said no increase in public transport fare is expected in Yerevan.

Earlier, on October 29, 2013, deputy mayor Kamo Areyan told reporters the fare will be most probably increased, the current one being insufficient to provide proper functioning of transport.