Enab Baladi – Lama Diab
A number of residents in Eastern Ghouta are complaining about transportation difficulties following the relocation of the minibus stops to al-Abbasiyeen station after being situated on al-Thawra Street in downtown Damascus. This has resulted in an additional financial burden due to the increased fare per passenger, not to mention the time spent transporting them to the city center.
Radwan al-Hawari, a student at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Damascus, told Enab Baladi that he lives in Zamalka. He stated that the decision to move the bus stops to al-Abbasiyeen station imposes an additional financial burden, especially on students and employees with limited incomes, particularly amid challenging living conditions. He noted that the decision, made last year (before the fall of the previous regime), was poorly considered.
Meanwhile, Mohammad al-Qabani, an employee in the private sector, has to leave at least two hours earlier from his residence in Harasta to reach his work in al-Mazzeh, expressing frustration over the time constraints and financial burdens caused by the relocation of the bus stops.
Imran Qattan, the director of the General Passenger Transport Authority at the Ministry of Transport, stated to Enab Baladi that they are working on a study to establish transfer stations on the outskirts of Damascus in coordination with Damascus governorate. A decision will be made soon.
The aim of these stations is to alleviate traffic congestion in the city of Damascus and provide comfortable transport that meets citizens’ needs, especially for students and low-income individuals. Internal buses will be made available to transport citizens to and from the city center in an organized manner, according to Qattan.
Qattan added that the fare set by internal transport companies is 2000 Syrian pounds from the transfer stations to the city center. He indicated that the fare would be studied in detail and attempts would be made to reduce it to lessen the burden on citizens.
Additionally, the fare for minibuses reaching the transfer stations will be reviewed, and he noted that a social fare regime will replace the economic fare for internal buses.
Fare discrepancies
During a tour by Enab Baladi in Damascus and its countryside to monitor the fare for internal transport buses, it was found that the fares for routes served by private internal transport companies are 3500 Syrian pounds, whereas with public internal transport buses (Zajel) it is 2000 Syrian pounds.
Passengers receive a ticket that is valid for a single use, protecting them from a financial penalty in case of inspection by monitors.
The Director of Land Transport in the Damascus branch, Hussein Raqiya, clarified to Enab Baladi that there is no difference in fuel price costs between public and private companies, with one liter of diesel sold for 13,065 Syrian pounds.
Raqiya added that legal measures will be applied against private companies that fail to comply with the decision to reduce the fare to 2000 Syrian pounds, preferring not to disclose the nature of these measures and allowing the companies some time to reassess their calculations.
“Transfer stations” to alleviate traffic congestion in Damascus Enab Baladi.
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