This Tuesday, the increase in urban traffic in Greater Caracas was officially announced, after the publication of Official Gazette No. 43,284, dated December 26. The resolution, issued by the Ministry of Popular Power for Transportationestablishes that the new minimum fare for urban transportation will be sixty bolivars (Bs. 60.00).
The measure, which began to be applied de facto since Monday the 29th by some carriers, generated confusion and complaints among users, who demanded the official publication of the adjustment. With the circulation of the Gazette this Tuesday, doubts about the legality of the new amount were cleared up.
He increase not only includes private transport unitsor, but also extends to public transportation systems operated by the State, such as the Caracas Metro, the Railway, the Venezuela Metrobús Corporation and other public operators. In all these cases, the rate was also set at Bs. 60, doubling the previous amount of Bs. 30.
The resolution also contemplates a 20% surcharge on the base rate on Sundays and holidays, which will allow drivers to charge up to Bs. 72 on those dates. Likewise, preferential rates of 50% are ratified for students, people with disabilities and adults over 60 years of age, who must present the corresponding documentation to access the benefit.
The adjustment responds to repeated requests from the transportation sector, which has been demanding a rate anchored to the official dollar of the Central Bank of Venezuela, arguing that the rise in operating costs, the shortage of spare parts and inflation have seriously affected the sustainability of the service.
