Chahraman Confirmed; Public Transport Fares to Increase from May 2024

The head of Tehran's City Council, Mehdi Chahraman, confirmed the 'fare increase' for public transport in the capital in the early months of next year. According to the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the security institutions of the Islamic Republic, Chahraman stated that the fare increases for 'buses, metro, and taxis' will be implemented from 'May 1, 2024', following approval in today's session of the Tehran City Council on March 22. He added that since the transport fare rates will be applied from the beginning of May, there is still time to review the bill for 'increasing public transport fares'. Chahraman mentioned that this topic is on the agenda for today's meeting of the city council. Jafar Tashakkori Hashemi, head of the Urban Development and Transport Commission of the Tehran City Council, during the review of the 'public transport fare bill', said: 'We have only increased the metro entry fare in Tehran by 16%, which is significantly lower than the inflation rate, and the fare is calculated only for the first 30 kilometers; beyond that, no fare is charged.' He added: 'Accordingly, the single trip ticket price, currently 3,300 tomans, will be a maximum of 4,300 tomans next year, and for suburban lines to Parand and Hashtgerd, we have also considered a 30% fare increase.' Tashakkori Hashemi stated that the average cost of a rapid bus ticket will increase by 21% and for regular buses by 30% compared to 2024, while a 40% increase is planned for chartered bus services. This council member also mentioned that a maximum increase of 45% is considered for taxi fares. These discussions regarding the increase in public transport fares for next year come after a similar occurrence at the beginning of 2022, which was repeated a few months later due to certain government economic policies. The newspaper 'Jahan San'at' reported in mid-August this year that some service providers, including 'line taxi drivers', have increased their charges under the pretext of 'increased bread prices'. This media outlet further reported that, for instance, in western Tehran, a route that previously cost '6,000 tomans' was increased by '1,000 tomans' by some drivers. The primary users of public transport in the capital are students, workers, and low to middle-income individuals, who are simultaneously grappling with the severe inflationary recession prevailing in the country. Protests from retirees over a 20% salary increase: it does not even reach half of the poverty line. The decline in purchasing power in Iran; 70% of workers are 'dual-income'. Taxi fares have also increased; bread prices in Tehran will soon rise. Cargo transport fares have increased by 30%; a forecast of up to a 5% increase in prices.