At the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) meeting, the change in fare tariffs in public transportation was discussed. The hike in public transportation in Istanbul was postponed, as an agreement could not be reached on the desired hike rates.
Taxi, minibus, service and sea transportation tradesmen demanded a 100 percent or more increase in public transportation prices. IMM, on the other hand, proposed an increase of 7 percent in all modes of transportation, taking into account the increase in inflation, foreign currency, fuel and minimum wage in the last 57,07 months.
Noting that 56 percent of citizens using public transportation in Istanbul use discounted and free tickets, Dr. Buğra Gökce said that as İBB, they heavily subsidize public transportation. Expressing that the cost of a trip to IMM is 20 liras, Gökce said, “This is not sustainable. The uncontrolled increase in the public resources we transfer to Public Transportation negatively affects the performance of other municipal services. Therefore, we are trying to find the optimum balance that can protect both citizens and tradesmen.”
FUEL INCREASED BY 7 PERCENT IN THE LAST 60 MONTHS
IMM Transportation Department Head Utku Cihan said that due to the serious increases in foreign currency, inflation, fuel and minimum wage in recent months, the proposal for an increase in public transportation fees has to come to the fore.
Cihan stated that after the last fare tariff implemented on January 1, there was a 7 percent increase in fuel in the last 60 months, and only 4500 TL subsidy support was provided by the Ministry of Family and Social Services for free boarding for a private public bus, and 115 thousand 500 TL by IMM. , said:
“With the increase to be made tonight, the engine price will have increased to 35 liras. Since the last regulation, there has been a 33 percent change in inflation. July inflation is expected to at least double compared to June. Like the spare parts supply, the spare parts of the vehicles used by IETT and our tradesmen are increasing in foreign currency index. While proposing this fee arrangement, we also take into account the opinions of our chambers and tradesmen.
IETT INCOME-EXPENSE RATIO 32 PERCENT
İETT General Manager İrfan Demet pointed out that the fuel cost to İETT in the last month was 210 million TL, together with the private public buses, with the latest hikes in diesel fuel, and said that the income-expense coverage ratio decreased to 32 percent.
After the evaluations, Buğra Gökce suggested that the public transportation fare increase proposal should be re-evaluated after the July inflation rate was announced. The public transportation new fare tariff proposal was unanimously withdrawn to the subcommittee to be reconsidered at the extraordinary meeting to be held next week after the July inflation figures were announced.
ISTANBULKART IS COMING TO MINIBUSES
UKOME also took a policy decision to integrate all minibuses across Istanbul into the Electronic fare collection system (Istanbulkart). The new system, which will be implemented after the decision to be taken by the IMM Assembly, will be started from Arnavutköy district, which has been selected as the pilot region. Afterwards, Istanbulkart will be valid for all minibuses in the city.
SEA TAXI CAN BE USED WITH SHARE
With another decision taken; A regulation has been made that will pave the way for sea taxis to be used simultaneously by making reservations by different people on the same route and time. With the change in the directive, sea taxis in Istanbul will now be able to divide the fare by making shared journeys. Passengers who will be included in the system will pay the total cost of the journey equal to one unit share of the sea taxi passenger capacity.
SHOP SHOP PROTESTED WHEN THE DECISION WAS NOT MADE
Taxi drivers, minibus drivers and service shopkeepers, who came in front of 1453 Çırpıcı Social Facilities where UKOME was held, protested when the price hike they were waiting for did not come and said that they suffered a loss with the current public transportation prices.