Fares to Increase by Up to 45% Starting Saturday; Public Transport at the Station of Price Hikes

The head of the Urban Development and Transport Commission of the Tehran City Council announced an increase in the prices of metro, bus, and taxi fares by up to 45% starting from the first of Ordibehesht (May). According to ISNA news agency, Jaafar Tashakkori Hashemi stated that pricing for private buses and taxis should be done in a way that does not harm taxi drivers and the private sector in bus transportation. He mentioned that the entry fee for rapid and regular buses will increase by 22% and taxi fares will rise by up to 45%. This increase in public transport fares comes after a similar occurrence at the beginning of the year 1402 (2023), which was repeated a few months later due to certain economic policies of the government. Given the persistent negative policies and approaches in Iran's economy, it is predicted that there will be further increases in public transport prices by the end of the year 1403 (2024). In this context, the newspaper 'Jahan San'at' published in Tehran reported in mid-Mordad 1402 (August 2023) that some service providers, including line taxi drivers, have increased their charges to the public under the pretext of 'rising bread prices.' The primary users of public transportation in the capital are students, workers, and employees from low and middle-income groups who are simultaneously grappling with severe stagflation in the country. A member of parliament noted that the income of nurses in ride-hailing services is twice that of nursing, and Chahran confirmed the increase in public transport fares from Ordibehesht 1403. The situation is expected to be very difficult next year, with workers' wages increasing by 30%, which is still lower than the inflation rate.