Sofia City Hall Vows to Reduce 'Free' Public Transport Rides

The 10 new trolleys in Sofia, serving line 11, all have air conditioning, stroller and handicap access. Photo by BGNES

The Mayor of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, Yordanka Fandakova, says the shortage of funds and financial troubles of the city’s public transportation are mainly attributed to people not paying for the ride.

According to Fandakova, a large number of individuals do not buy or validate passes and tickets and prefer to pay their fine if caught by the inspectors.

For this reason the Mayor is proposing a hike on the current BGN 10 fine instead of raising the fare price (currently BGN 1).

Fandakova spoke at the ceremony, during which she and her deputies for finance and transport presented the 10 brand new trolleys purchased by the City Hall with funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The Mayor promised more resources for Sofia’s public transportation from EBRD and from the EU operational program Regional Development, but pointed out she wants to see first improved revenues and efficiency on the part of the municipal transport companies, whose balance sheets show shortage of funds over staggering debt.

Last year, the City Hall also spent BGN 100 M for subsidizing discount passes for students, retirees and handicapped people, which is one third of its entire transport budget.

The Mayor, her deputies, and other officials attending the ceremony took a ride on one of the new trolleys to the building of the Sofia University and then walked on foot to the City Hall despite the long line of official vehicles waiting for them at the University.

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