Since mid-March, the transport sector in the department of Rivas has managed to see a very positive advance in demand. They also ensure that both December and Easter are the seasons with the most movements of national tourists in the country, who take the initiative to vacation on the different beaches of the department of Rivas or compatriots, visit their families.
“The demand is something that makes the taxi driver happy because since 2018, we have not seen something similar. Little by little, people have been losing their fear of going out, one of the strongest sectors is the Peñas Blancas area, because Nicaraguan citizens from Costa Rica come to visit their relatives,” said Juan Barahona, president of the Union of Cooperatives. del Sur (Unicotaxsur), from Rivas.
Some members of the transport sector assured that they are seeking the well-being, comfort and safety of the user in these summer vacations, with the execution of the technical and mechanical inspection of the vehicle.
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“We meet with the Police, and we carry out general checks of our units, especially for this high season that we make long-distance trips and we demand that our transport be in good condition so that it does not present any mechanical damage or in the worst case. , suffer an accident that takes someone’s life,” said a taxi driver on the Rivas-Peñas Blancas route.
No rate increase
The prices of the rates with destinations to the different municipalities of the department of Rivas remain without any change, says Barahona. “We understand the economic situation of the user. For these dates, there was no type of change in prices, if you want to travel from Rivas to San Jorge the price is around 25 córdobas, from Rivas to Tola or to the municipality of Belén or vice versa the price is 40 córdobas and if it is San Juan del Sur, it costs 70 córdobas,” Barahona said.
He explained that in the case of the border, the cadet will charge them the sum of 100 córdobas. “It is important to mention that the established prices are for the user to stay informed and not suffer from any kind of alteration of illegal rates,” Barahona clarified.
They ask the MTI for reciprocal charges
«Every time we have a long trip outside the department, whether it is to Granada, Masaya or Carazo, MTI inspectors remain at the Ochomogo post, charging the amount of 150 córdobas for each exit. This affects, because it is a high cost and also delays, there are long lines to make the trip, “complained a cadet who covers the Rivas-Belén route.
They regretted that the charge is only to leave the department and the same rate is not applied to drivers arriving from Carazo, Granada or Managua, so they ask that the charge be made to all equally. “If Ochomogo is going to function as a checkpoint, we ask that the charges be even,” they demanded.
According to statements by Francisco Cuendiz, departmental delegate of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MTI), like the December holidays, for this Easter season they hope to meet the demand of users. In addition, he reiterated that the main conflicts they are facing in this high season are illegal changes in fares and excess passengers.
“We have more than 30 plant units that normally make trips from Rivas to Cárdenas and vice versa and from Peñas Blancas to Managua and we are guaranteeing 28 more units for passenger demand. The rates remain the same, an ordinary bus from Peñas blancas to Managua costs 110 córdobas and the express bus 130 córdobas, but it is important to note that when we no longer have plant units, we have reinforcement or emergent units with a total cost of 150 córdobas,” Cuendiz reiterated.
In this season, some carriers tend to illegally alter the rate established by the MTI or move to excess passengers, according to the MTI departmental delegate, fines will be implemented for this type of anomaly to which many users are victims.
“We continue to penalize for altered rates, the fines range from three hundred, six hundred and 1,300 córdobas respectively. The only thing we need is for users to identify the name and license plate of the bus unit,” advised the MTI delegate.
By United Voices
