A number of route taxis, mainly minibus taxis working in the Erebuny
community and Nork Massif, stopped work today due to gas prices rising
in gas stations, Armenian News reports.
On 1st April the price in gas stations for a cubic meter of gas jumped
from 180 drams to 200. The rising prices at gas stations are due to
rising prices for gas produced by "ArmRosGasprom": Since 1st April the
price for large consumers has been set at $243, instead of the former
$215 per cubic meter of gas.
Public transport drivers, mainly using gas for transport, had at first
seemed resigned to the rise. However, the price for gas rose again by
20 drams. "We receive 14 thousand drams a day, spending 9 thousand on
gas, and cars have other small expenses. As a result we hardly earn
anything, returning home pennyless. Many people in other lines of
businss are also idle because of higher gas prices", - according to
many minibus drivers.
The drivers say that working in such conditions is pointless. Their
main demands are a reduction in gas prices , although some say it's
time to increase the fares. "Food is getting more expensive, gas is
getting more expensive - everything gets more expensive. Except for
passenger fares, everything has become more expensive", - they noted.
Information was received at noon that the rising prices at Yerevan gas
stations have been cancelled and gas is being sold for 200 drams. Many
drivers went back to work, although some of them are still on strike.
