Suren Grigoryan: with supply of new buses, new travel system to be  launched in Yerevan 

ArmInfo.With the delivery of 171 new buses to Yerevan, which is expected in September 2024, a  new travel system will be launched in the capital. Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Suren Grigoryan told reporters during a briefing.

He noted that we are talking about 8.6 meter Zhong Tong buses, the  operation of which will reduce the waiting time for transport, and  bus schedules will be available at stops.

Grigoryan explained that the need to finalize the project on a new  travel system, which would increase the fare, arose because of many  questions raised by the citizens, rather than public pressure. "We  are in no hurry, even if we had accepted the project in the form in  which it was originally proposed, the changes would still have come  into force only in September. And since we have time, we decided to  finalize the project," he explained. At the same time, the vice mayor  said that the statements that the fare will be from 260 to 300 drams  are lies and speculation.

He noted that with the finalization of the project, certain  restrictions will be lifted, and regarding fares, the Council of  Elders, after additional discussions, will soon present new  proposals. "A trip by GAZel and a trip by Zhong Tong bus cannot cost  the same-100 drams," Grigoryan said. Even if the project is adopted  in the form in which it was presented, according to him, this does  not mean that the state will not provide subsidies. In particular, he  noted that the state will provide appropriate benefits for citizens  who are not able to purchase an annual, or quarterly, or monthly  subscription for travel on public transport.

The capital's mayor's office recently announced plans to increase the  cost of travel on public transport, presenting a corresponding  project. During a recent press conference, Yerevan Vice-Mayor Suren  Grigoryan reported that different tariff packages will apply to  public transport, so it was difficult to indicate the exact amount of  the price increase. At the same time, he said that when calculating  for 60 trips per month (we are talking about 30 calendar days), you  will need to pay 11,000 drams in cash for a ticket, and when paying  through the Telcell system - 10,800 drams. Similarly, quarterly and  annual tickets will cost 25 thousand drams (via Telcell 24.8 thousand  drams) and 110 thousand drams (via Telcell 108 thousand drams)  respectively. "Accordingly, the cost of a one-way trip on one type of  transport will be 180 drams, instead of the current 100," he said.

According to data circulated in the media, the cost of transport  travel can range from 300 to 500 drams per trip, an unaffordable  price for citizens, many of whose monthly income is less than $200.