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The non-governmental organization “Save Sofia” warns that the government has submitted to the Sofia City Council a proposal for an additional BGN 5 million to go to the private carrier MTK Group. City activists, who fought against the concession four years ago, say that because of the unfavorable contract the municipality has signed, it is now forced to give more and more municipal money to the company.
MTK will not only travel at a higher price compared to the municipal carrier Stolichen Avtotransport, but a retrospective price adjustment is also envisaged, whereby the municipality will pay 5 million BGN of taxpayer money to the private company. company. This is illogical, since the municipal company operates much busier lines, including articulated buses, and therefore has significantly higher costs ”. – says Andrey Zografski from Save Sofia.
Activists recall that the main argument of the ruling GERB and IMRO in favor of the concession was that the private carrier would lead to more favorable prices than Stolichen Avtotransport. Now it turns out that this was a lie. “The price adjustment is valid both forward and retroactive. There are months when the price of the MTC was significantly higher than that of the municipal company and our concession is golden. The easier suburban lines are more expensive to operate than yes. they would have been served by the Sofia municipal transport. So at least the benefit would be for the municipal company, instead of looking for loans and state aid for it. “- Independent municipal councilor Boris Bonev is categorical.
Save Sofia recalls that 4 years ago they were against the concession because it is unfavorable for the Municipality of Sofia, and the contract has unclear clauses and the public interest is not guaranteed. “The concession was presented as very profitable and the only solution for public transport. Now we see that it brings new and new problems, since MTK is suing the Municipality, which is giving more and more money to the company.
It should be noted that all the reports related to the ITC have the same actor: Carlos Contrera from IMRO. He proposed the initial contract to transfer the lines to the private company, submitted the reports to increase the mileage and the business of the company, now again offering another 5 million BGN of the citizens’ money to go to the private company. “I urge GERB and VMRO to explain to the people of Sofia why they have signed an unprofitable contract, providing more and more money for a company, instead of developing the municipal transport company. Why did they allow a vague contract so that the Municipality could be easily tried with almost no rights? This form of government cannot continue because it damages public finances and distorts the public interest ”. – said Boris Bonev. He also asked the mayor, Ms. Fandakova, how long she would remain silent on the actions of the majority city councilors.
We remind you that only in recent weeks, Councilor Carlos Contreras has embarked on several scandals. It was he who proposed the renovation of the dormitory in Druzhba, at prices many times higher than those on the market, turned Saborna street back into a parking lot and now offers more money for the private carrier.
Sofia, Bulgaria
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