Avinian said that in response to citizens’ “reactions and proposals,” the ruling Civil Contract party will try to push these changes through the city council on February 11.
The new prices are due to come into force on February 1. They will replace the existing bus and minibus fees of 100 drams (25 U.S. cents) per ride with a complex tariff system involving electronic payments for season tickets.
Commuters will have to pay 9,000 drams ($22) per month, 24,000 drams per quarter and 90,000 drams per annum for an unlimited number of bus, trolleybus or metro rides. The concessions offered by Avinian do not apply to them.
The municipal administration is ready to only extend the validity of more short-term tickets. It also proposed a 10 percent reduction in a tariff covering 10 bus rides.
Avinian announced the minor changes as the two opposition groups represented in the municipal legislature stepped up their campaign against the unpopular measure. They are bound to reject the changes and insist on a full scrapping of the price hikes described by them as unjustified. Grigor Yeritsian, a senior member of one of those groups led by former Mayor Hayk Marutian, said they must be “thrown into a dust bin.”
Marutian has called on citizens to boycott the new public transport fees and continue paying 100 drams from February 1.
There were growing signs of widespread discontent with the measure which the municipal authorities say is necessary for cutting losses incurred by Yerevan’s transport network and buying more buses needed by it. Pensioners seem especially angry despite being eligible for a 30 percent price discount.
As one of them told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, “My monthly pension is 42,000 drams. How can I afford [the new fees?]”