Authorities prepared for transport experiment in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 3 (ACN) The authorities in charge of implementing the experiment for the reorganization of transport in this capital are ready to put these regulations into effect on October 8.

Marta Oramas Rivero, Deputy Minister of Transport, reported on television that the process of preparing the administrative structures responsible for issuing operating licenses to private carriers has already been completed.

During this stage 327 seminars were held, with an attendance of 67 percent of those summoned, which amount to more than six thousand, among holders of permits for this service in jeep, cars, panel or minibus, from six to 14 passengers.

Since last September 25, an orderly and personalized call was issued, in which the private worker is given a pro-forma contract to purchase fuel, the possession of which, in addition to the ownership of a bank account, is a mandatory requirement to obtain an operating license.

After four months of the experiment, it will be extended to the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque and within a year to the rest of the national territory, in addition to incorporating vehicles of greater size and capacity.

According to the deputy Minister, the measures adopted seek a balance between the interests of the population, associated with more affordable prices and security, the transporters, so that their incomes are not diminished and they have access to facilities with inputs, and the State, which must guarantee a stable, orderly and quality service.

The reorganization establishes a new classification of the taxi service that constitutes the first step for the establishment of a national regulation of this service which is now divided into the modalities of route, free and high comfort or classic.

The provisions establish a homogeneous signaling for all cars, a magnetic card for the acquisition of fuel with differentiated prices, a contractual relationship with a state company for the management of transport and access to the network of workshops, supplies and auxiliary services.

The taxi service route, the most in demand was ordered in 23 routes with a preset price of five pesos for every 8 kilometers, and each route will have at least two kilometers.

Oramas Rivero said that since May last year was implemented a taxi service routers managed by a state company, which reached 19 routes and whose results have allowed to validate the itineraries and routes established, which take into account the natural knots of population movement.

About 90 percent of private carriers registered in Havana are dedicated to passenger service, which complements and is an important alternative to that provided by state companies.