The proposals, which included the mandatory wage increase and the staggering of the Istanbulkart fees for students over the age of 25, which the public transportation tradesmen and IMM brought to the agenda of UKOME, were rejected by the majority of the representatives of the Ministry. İBB Secretary General Can Akın Çağlar said, “As İBB, we have to make a subsidy of 15 billion liras in order not to interrupt public transportation in Istanbul this year. It is imperative that these regulations be made for the sustainability of public services.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) March meeting was held at Çırpıcı İBB 1453 Social Facilities. At the meeting chaired by İBB Secretary General Can Akın Çağlar, the wage increase proposal arising from the cost increases brought to the UKOME agenda by the public transportation tradesmen and İBB together was discussed.
ÇAĞLAR: “WE HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE 15 BILLION LIRA”
Speaking about the proposal, which envisages 50 percent increase in IETT, Metro Istanbul, City Lines, minibus, taxi and minibus fees and 40 percent increase in service fees, IBB Secretary General Can Akın Çağlar said that due to the economic crisis and war that shook Turkey, transportation tradesmen and consumers are right. He said they were talking about something. Çağlar said that despite the 5,5 billion liras allocated for public transportation subsidies in the budget, today IMM should make a 15 billion lira subsidy in order not to interrupt transportation.
“In other words, we have to withdraw a large resource of 15 billion liras from the construction of other works and use it for subsidy purposes so that public transportation does not stop. While we were subsidizing IETT with 10 million liras per day at the beginning of the year, today we are at a point where we pay 27 million liras per day. We agree that public services should not be for profit. However, for the sustainability of these services, these arrangements must be made, even if they are not under the name of increase. This is the expectation of our tradesmen and IMM institutions.”
COSTS INCREASED 53 PERCENT
IMM Public Transportation Services Manager Barış Yıldırım, in their meeting with the tradesmen representatives; He stated that as of December 24, 2021, when the last increase was given, there was a 45-50 percent increase in fuel and a 53 percent increase in total cost increases.
IETT General Manager Alper Bilgili also noted that due to the increase in fuel and worker costs, IMM will have to subsidize IETT by 10 billion liras this year.
Ozgur Soy, General Manager of Metro Istanbul, stated that the electricity bill, which was 2021 million lira in January 19, increased to 2022 million lira in February 63 and over 70 million lira in March, adding, “It is not possible to sustain public transportation in Istanbul with these costs.”
THE REQUEST OF THE SHOPPER WAS NOT CONSIDERED
Eyüp Aksu, President of the Istanbul Taxi Drivers' Chamber, said, “It has become a necessity for us to demand this raise. Our shopkeepers are victims, some of the vehicles do not work and some of the drivers quit their jobs. Our tradesmen have started to give 60 percent of the money they earn to fuel,” he said.
Yunus Can, Chairman of the Board of TURYOL, also said that the proposed hike rate was kept at the lowest rate and that it was far from meeting the losses in sea transportation.
Turgay Gül, President of the Istanbul Transporters Association, emphasized that the fuel price increased by 27 liras on top of the 10 percent hike, and said, "We want to complete the training season until June rather than earning money."
After the opinions were expressed, the "Regulation of Public Transportation Fee Tariffs" proposal, which was put to the vote, was rejected by the majority of the representatives of the Ministry.
DISCOUNTED ISTANBULKART FEE TARIFF IS NOT ACCEPTED
The proposal, which included the grading of the Istanbulkart fees for students over the age of 25, which was discussed at the meeting, was also rejected by a majority of votes in line with the negative votes of the Ministry representatives.
It was emphasized that the decrease in the student Istanbulkart subscription fees caused an increase in the number of Istanbulkarts given to university students (including open education), and it was emphasized that 2009 percent of the number of Istanbulkarts issued between 2022 and 47 consisted of university students (including open education).
Utku Cihan, Head of Transportation Department of IMM, reminded that as IMM, they keep the student's monthly blue card at 78 liras in order to provide comfortable transportation for students, and said that they found that it was abused by making open education registration, and that it is important to protect the resources of Istanbulites.
Representative of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Serdar Yücel, stated that the Council of State has made a decision that no distinction can be made between university students and asked for the proposal to be re-evaluated in the subcommittee in the light of this decision.
The "Proposal for Arranging Discounted Istanbulkart Fees", which was put to the vote after the opinions, was rejected by the majority of the representatives of the Ministry.
Also at the meeting, the “Bicycle Rental Directive Revision” proposal to be operated by IMM in the Islands was sent to the subcommittee for re-evaluation by majority of votes. The proposal to “Revise the Upper Limit for Driver Age Limit for Public Transport Vehicle Usage Certificate as 66” was rejected by a majority of votes.
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