Former Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan calls for a boycott of the public transport fare increase
Former Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan has called for a boycott of the proposed public transport fare increase by continuing to pay 100 AMD per ride.
Hayk Marutyan and current Mayor Tigran Avinyan have debated the fare hike. While Marutyan supports the introduction of package systems, he strongly opposes increasing the single-ride fare above 100 AMD. Tigran Avinyan, in response, stated that the new system would be cheaper for frequent users but more expensive for occasional users.
Marutyan is urging the “Civil Contract” party to “abandon the unjustified fare increase and maintain the 100 AMD fare for a single ride.”
During a debate, Mayor Avinyan announced that starting January 1, the average transport fare in the city would be 144 AMD.
The “Hayakve” national civic initiative has demanded the suspension of the fare hike decision and called for an independent professional review. Their statement reads, “We demand that the Yerevan municipal authorities suspend the implementation of this controversial decision for at least one year and commission an independent professional review to analyze the situation in depth and propose economically and socially justified solutions.”
Starting January 1, a unified ticketing system will be introduced in Yerevan. According to the municipality, a 30-day ticket package will cost 8,800 AMD, a 90-day package 23,600 AMD, and an annual package 88,000 AMD. A single ticket will cost 300 AMD, with discounts available for pensioners, schoolchildren, students, and welfare recipients.
Certain groups will use public transport for free, including children under 7 years old, orphaned schoolchildren and students, individuals with disabilities (Groups 1 and 2), residents of orphanages or elderly homes, former USSR heroes, national heroes of Armenia, recipients of the 1st and 2nd Degree Battle Cross and triple recipients of the Order of Glory, and parents from large families.