Bulgarian Capital Caps Taxi Fares

The picture shows a cab price list with fares more than 10 times higher than the usual ones. Photo by BGNES

The taxi fares in Sofia will be capped after the Parliament passes the amendments of the Automobile Carriers Act.

The information was reported Monday by the Sofia Deputy Mayor in charge of the Transport Department, Lyubomir Hristov, who says the price ceiling will be determined only after consultations and agreement with the major cab companies in the capital.

Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition recently voiced opposition to the amendment of the law and called it unacceptable because it would hurt fair competition and will lead to all cab companies asking for the maximum allowed price.

The proposal of the Transport Ministry is to give city halls the authority to determine the price ceiling and update these prices at least ones per year.

Hristov explains the price determination in Sofia will use a formula taking into account the wear and tear of the automobile, the fuel prices and the wages of the driver.

Sofia now has about 5 000 registered i.e. legal taxi cabs. The annual permit costs BGN 50.

The amendment of the law provides fines up to BGN 3 000 for cabs which offer rides for prices higher than the established ceiling.

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