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Transporters say that RATB – Bucharest’s public transport company – operates illegally in Ilfov county, because it didn’t bid in public auctions for the attribution of transport routes. According to protesters, the public company does not pay fiscal dues, does not have authorizations from the Romanian Road Authority, and above all is subsidised.
The routes on which RATB recently started operation had been attributed by public auction in April 2008 to private road transporters for five years, and the winners say they have invested hundreds of millions of Euros to buy new minibuses or buses. After this investment boom, almost half of the minibus fleet is out of business and the private transporters are on the brink of bankruptcy because of unfair competition by RATB. The workforce was equally affected – with some 600 drivers left without jobs – a strong social argument in a time of crisis.
Although they could fight for the lost market share with lower fares, private transporters say that passengers will still prefer RATB’s buses, because there are barely any ticket checks. Transporters added that tickets sales don’t cover RATB’s expenses, but this is not a big issue for a state-owned subsidised company.
The Ministry of Transports and Infrastructure promised that during this month the decision would be revoked and that private transporters would not be faced with unfair competition anymore.
