Moldova transport operators plan July 9 protest
Public transport operators, united under the Association of Auto Transport Operators (APOTA), are set to stage a large-scale protest in central Chișinău on July 9.
According to APOTA, protesters plan to line up 100 minibuses and buses in the Great National Assembly Square.
In a notification sent to Chișinău City Hall, APOTA requested optimized traffic flow around A. Pușkin and Mitropolit B. Bodoni streets to facilitate the access of minibuses and buses in front of the Government building.
According to organizers, the protest will involve around 120 transportation workers, with 100 driving the minibuses and buses. It's scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM in the Great National Assembly Square and last until 12:30 PM.
The operators accuse authorities of delaying decisions intended to help overcome the crisis affecting the sector.
Oleg Alexa, head of APOTA, previously told Teleradio-Moldova that their demands remain unchanged: first, the adoption of a tariff calculation methodology; second, the reconsideration of the Ministry of Infrastructure's initiative regarding E-GPS and E-Ticket systems; and third, the withdrawal of ANTA letters that mandated all passenger transporters to adapt their vehicles for accessibility for people with disabilities.
Recently, Government spokesperson Daniel Vodă stated that authorities have acknowledged the operators' demands, adding that the responsibility for finding solutions lies with the relevant ministry, which is tasked with managing dialogue with industry stakeholders and proposing concrete measures.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
