THE SECOND APPEARING OF THE CHRIST OR NORMAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
Aysor.am
21.08.2009, 13:14
There is no alternative in reducing the number of mini buses and
substituting them with small or mid-size buses, according to the
social and economic development program of Yerevan for 2009.
All this just written…
According to the same program "for this purpose, in 2009, 250 buses,
modified for towns, are to be acquired and exploited on the means
of private investors, comprising 3000 million drams. A new route,
for improving the situation of public transport in Yerevan, has been
worked out and soon will be approved, which includes the reduction
of the number of mini buses from 2600 to 650, and the number of the
buses will increase by 2010".
Harutyun Melkumyan, the head of traffic regulation at the Yerevan
municipality’s transport department, informed Aysor.am, that since the
end of 2005, when the import of buses launched, 384 buses belonging
to different brands have been imported, mostly "Bogdan", "Paz",
"Zonda", and "Nema". Daily more than 250 buses are used. According
to him, now the import of buses is realized by private companies,
not by the government, and whether "they will go on with importing
of the buses is doubtable".
It should be mentioned that as to the 2009 program 250 buses were
supposed to be imported. By the beginning of the year only 12 buses
were imported, and no more buses are expected during this year.
To the question how the government is going to make the private
companies import buses, H. Melkumyan said: "There are issues based on
contracts according to which the private companies are due to import
buses, but today there are difficulties and they cannot realize
the import".
The ratio of mini-buses should comprise 19.2 %. To improve the quality
and level of transportation more than 500-600 buses are needed. The
deadline for the reduction of mini buses is by 2012.
There are 2750 mini buses in Yerevan now. In 2005-2006 there were 3300,
and by 2010 only 650mini buses should be in use.
"Parallel with the import of the buses, the number of mini buses is
reduced. This is a long process and it is not possible to realize it
at once",- said H. Melkumyan.
He said that the route of Yerevan is to be revised and only after it
the number oh buses and mini buses will be fixed.
"The result of so many mini buses is pollution, traffic jams,
inconveniency and the danger for life. During last year we had 408
victims in traffic accidents. In peace time having 408 victims is
terrible. If we compare the quantity of our cars and the number of
our victims with any other European county, we will find that it
is 6-7 times more. If 408 people died it means that more than 1000
were damaged",-said Armen Poghosyan, the Chairman of Armenian Union
of Consumers.
Armen Poghosyan mentioned that while getting started the engine of the
capacity of the car is 17 times more, than while driving and hence
the same number of exhaustion. The stations for mini buses are more
than those for buses, so more are the exhaustions.
The president of the union talked about European countries, mentioning
Dublin. When the electric transport became prominent the number
of exhaustions reduced for 28 thousand tons. As to him the social
investigation held in London proved that 70 % of population prefers
buses.
According to the results of the investigation on the last three years,
the number of mini buses is 90-91 % and the tempo of the reduction
shows that the result of 19.2 % will be reached at "Christ’s second
appearing".
"The purpose of mini buses is to travel without stopping from one
point to another".
"The former ambassador of Italy imported 15 buses. But where are
they now?"
The head of traffic regulation at the Yerevan municipality’s transport
department was unaware of this.
"Our country leads a disgraceful economic policy. Instead of
importing oil, petrol, we want to improve the state of electric
transportation. And the trolley-buses are in terrible state", –
said A. Poghosyan.
H. Melkumyan said that there are 100 trolley-buses in Yerevan,
2 of which are technical support. During the last 2 years 18 new
trolley-buses were imported each year. By 2011 up to 20 trolley-buses
are planned to be imported each year. And the import of trolley-buses
is realized with the support of the government.
Now we have 7 trolley-buses roads instead of the 25 functioning during
the Soviet times.