8.5 Billion Dram Deficit: Avinyan Highlights Causes

The City of Yerevan, and specifically the Yerevan Bus Company, has faced a deficit of 8.5 billion drams this year. This was stated by the Mayor of Yerevan, Tigran Avinyan, during a working consultation at the municipal government.

“This is due to new rolling stock, new quality equipment, and the issues of its maintenance. This amount constitutes about 15% of Yerevan's revenues from the perspective of this year’s budget. So, when it is said that the municipality needs to subsidize, let me say that the municipality is indeed subsidizing, particularly in enormous amounts for public transport. The new 171 buses will significantly increase this expense,” said the mayor.

According to him, in light of all this, it is very important to transition to a unified ticketing system, which is not merely a whim of the municipality but the only formula for ensuring and maintaining quality.

Avinyan stated that a package of privileges for groups that genuinely need them will be discussed in the upcoming council meeting.

He also instructed Beglar Kirakosyan, the director of the Yerevan Bus Company, to ensure that issues concerning drivers are consistently kept in focus. He noted that the public transport sector is currently in a crucial transitional period and expressed hope that everyone will be able to adapt to the new system.

It should be noted that starting from November 1, it is mandatory to have a 100 dram coin or QR code to use public transport. The transport system in Yerevan will be serviced by TelCell for five years, after which a new competition will be announced.