Istanbul Municipality’s proposal to hike transportation fees rejected

Istanbul Municipality’s proposal for a 50 percent increase in public transportation fares was rejected by the municipality's Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) on March 23. Istanbul Municipality spokesperson Murat Ongun attributed the rejection of the proposal to the government's effort to "destroy the municipality.”

Thursday March 24 2022 04:42 pm

Duvar English

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s proposal for a 50 percent increase in public transportation fares and a 40 percent increase in shuttle fares was rejected by a majority of votes in the municipality's Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) on March 23.

Drivers of private public buses, mini buses and shuttles in Istanbul had requested a 50-60% increase, saying that they wouldn’t otherwise continue to work.

At UKOME's meeting in December 2021, public transportation fees were increased by 36 percent and service fees by 27 percent, which has been effective starting from the new year.

Istanbul Municipality spokesperson Murat Ongun attributed the rejection of the proposal to the government's effort to "destroy the municipality,” which is run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

“There was an unprecedented hike in fuel prices. The passenger fee in public transportation has become unable to meet even fuel oil. UKOMEs in all metropolitan cities of Turkey decided to price hikes. In Istanbul, it was blocked,” Ongun on March 23 tweeted.

Akaryakıta tarihte görülmemiş zam yapıldı. İBB, 10 milyar TL sübvanse yapıyor ama toplu taşımada yolcu ücreti akaryakıtı bile karşılayamaz hale geldi. Türkiye’nin tüm büyükşehirlerindeki UKOME’lerden zam kararı çıktı. İstanbul’da ise engellendi.

Tek amaç İBB ve İETT’yi batırmak.
— Murat Ongun (@Mrt_Ongun) March 23, 2022

Ongun also criticized Serdar Yücel, the representative of the Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry at UKOME. "All the demands of Istanbul residents, including 5,000 new taxi offers, are rejected at UKOME by the instruction of Serdar Yücel. The aim is to make the municipality inoperable/sink,” Ongun said.

5 bin yeni taksi teklifi dahil İstanbulluların tüm talepleri UKOME’de Ulaştırma Bakanlığı’nın temsilcisi Serdar Yücel’in talimatıyla reddedilmekte. Amaç İBB’yi işlemez hale getirmek / batırmak. Bizi üzen asıl konu UKOME’de TSK ve Emniyet temsilcilerinin de bu zata tabi olması. pic.twitter.com/sEwI4Wn3I8
— Murat Ongun (@Mrt_Ongun) March 23, 2022

On the other hand, the Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry issued a written statement regarding the rejection of the municipality's request. "The offer for the raise was found to be high and rejected," the ministry said.