The General Mayor of the Capital, Ciprian Ciucu, argues that a possible increase in public transport fares in Bucharest will only be reconsidered after the management of the Bucharest Transport Company (STB) takes internal reform measures and reduces costs.
The mayor stated on Monday evening, on Digi24, that the project regarding the increase in ticket prices was put on the agenda of the General Council at the request of some members of the General Assembly of Shareholders, previously designated by PSD and PNL. However, the project was rejected after the social democrats did not vote for it.
"We don't raise the ticket price to fill some people's pockets."
"I will consider raising the ticket price only after I see that the company's management will make the right decisions. Not 'we raise the ticket if we don't reform internally'," said Ciprian Ciucu.
The mayor accused STB of being "a deeply unreformed and parasitized company" and said he asked the management for a reorganization plan. He warned that the company must either reduce expenses and improve services or face insolvency.
"I told them they have two options: either try to cut costs and improve service quality, or go bankrupt because we won't give them any more money," the mayor said.
Accusations regarding political hiring criteria
Ciprian Ciucu stated that the STB reform should start with reducing positions filled "based on connections and relationships," not with layoffs among drivers and conductors.
"They should get rid of those based on connections and relationships, not the hardworking drivers and conductors, and then come asking for a ticket price increase. Because I don't want to raise the ticket price just like that, to fill some people's pockets through the positions they hold," he stated.
He argued that the number of TESA staff in the company is comparable to the number of employees who actually drive STB vehicles.
"STB is not under my authority"
The General Mayor insisted that he does not directly control the transport company's management, explaining that STB is under the authority of the General Council of Bucharest and that decisions are influenced by the majority formed by representatives of the municipalities of Ilfov and Bucharest.
"My only authority over STB is in my pen, whether I give them money or not," Ciucu stated.