At least 15 drivers of minibuses running on routes in Chisinau were penalized for not using the itineraries set by the authorities. If the violations repeat, the General Public Transport and Communications Division will terminate the contracts with the given minibus route managers, IPN reports.
After the January 12 meeting of officials of Chisinau services and divisions, the Division’s deputy head Vitalie Butucel said a number of minibus drivers were seen travelling on other streets than those set by order of the mayor of Chisinau. Some of them argued that they modified the routes following the traffic jams that formed during the winter holidays.
“The Transport Division documented these violations in concert with employees of the National Patrolling Inspectorate. There were written 15 reports and imposed the appropriate fines. Over the next few days we will submit prescriptions to all the involved route managers and penalties will be imposed in accordance with the contracts for the administration of routes signed with these minibus operators,” stated Vitalie Butucel.
On November 1, 2014, the itineraries of the minibuses running on municipal routes were modified so that they now bypass central Chisinau. On December 25, 2014, the old routes of some of the minibuses were restored. The Chisinau City Hall argued such changes are needed in order to avoid the overlapping of the minibus routes with the bus and trolleybus routes.
