The Association of Passenger Transport Enterprises of Almaty claims that the current fare for public transport is unprofitable.
According to Informburo.kz, since 21 August last year, the cost of a bus fare in Almaty was raised to 100 tenge for cashless payments and 200 tenge for cash payments. However, carriers state that with such rates, development of the industry is impossible.
"We purchase public transport that runs exclusively on environmentally friendly fuel. Last year we purchased 250 buses, and this year we brought in another 150 eco-friendly buses. In our work, we set high standards for passenger service, but the purchase and proper maintenance of the technical condition of the buses require significant costs," noted the director of the bus depot, Madiya Kiryukhina of Eco Bus Service LLP.
The director of the private bus depot "City Bus", Abylai Ostemir, noted that last year a 12-metre gas-powered bus cost around 70 million tenge, and this year they are already purchasing electric buses costing more than 170 million tenge.
"Furthermore, the prices for spare parts for buses have increased by about 10–15%. It is clear that the akimat allocates subsidies every year, but these funds only cover losses, since the real cost of a fare reaches 400 tenge. To stimulate further renewal of the bus fleet, a revision of the public transport fare is necessary," emphasised the head of the private bus depot.