Switch to cashless payment for travel causes 136 million soms of damage
Switch to cashless payment for travel in public transport caused 136 million soms of damage. It was announced at a meeting of the standing commission of the Bishkek City Council on housing and communal services, fuel and energy complex, transport, communications and ecology.
Deputy Kazybek Ergeshov recalled that there was a shortage of Tulpar cards in the first days of switch to non-cash payment. He asked what damage was caused to transport companies because of this, since drivers were prohibited from taking cash payments and passengers had to be transported for free.
Acting Vice Mayor Maksatbek Sazykulov responded that the damage for two months amounted to about 136 million soms. He noted that several letters were sent to the project operator BPC on this issue.
Now there are cards and validators, but people are not psychologically ready for non-cash payments.
Maksatbek Sazykulov
Maksatbek Sazykulov noted that since the introduction of electronic ticketing, the number of trips paid by non-cash method has almost doubled.
He added that the City Hall has been considering the possibility of introducing a differentiated tariff, when the fare will be higher when paying in cash. At the same time, it is planned to issue tickets to passengers.
Earlier, the Bishkek City Hall announced that from August 20, municipal transport will completely switch to a non-cash payment method. But cash payments are still accepted in trolleybuses and buses in the capital.
