As of the first hour of Tuesday, more than 100 bus lines that circulate through the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) will return to work throughout the day at half of their operational capacity due to the delay in the payment of subsidies by the State, thus reactivating a conflict that also occurred in August of last year, when the situation escalated and even complete stoppages were generated.
The measure of force, which will be maintained until there is an agreement between the parties, was announced by the Passenger Auto Transport Chamber (CEAP) y la Chamber of Transport of the Province of Buenos Aires (CTPBA), which bring together the main companies in the sector.
Although it had initially been reported that the reduction to 50% of the usual frequency It was going to be only at night, the companies met once more and decided that it would be all day.
According to what they specified to infobae sources of these organizations, the main claim is once morest the Buenos Aires government for close to $8 billion in concept of tariff compensation, which should have been paid last week.
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They also request that the National Executive Branch sign the cost update that the operators of this service have (which determines the amount of the subsidy they should receive), which has not changed since last August.
In a brief statement, the chambers informed “the user public that they are forced for reasons of force majeure to rationalize services at times of low demand”, so that circulation is not affected during the day.
“It is the only possibility for the sector to avoid immediately exhausting the few operational resources that are still available in the companies. In addition to the lack of updating costs, whose prices have not been updated since August 2022, the incomplete payment of already officially recognized expenses is added, ”they pointed out.
Likewise, they specified that “in the sphere of the province of Buenos Aires there is a delay in the payment of the tariff compensations that make the operation of the services possible”, for which they assured that, “without these incomes, having exhausted all the financing, most companies are unable to continue operating normally.
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“It should be noted that the recent rate increase does not generate more income for companies. The higher payment from users translates into a lower outlay for State compensation, even lower than the higher collection from ticket sales, ”they explained.
In fact, the same sources in the sector remarked to this medium that, although the bus ticket recently increased by 40%, this increase does not fully reach the companies and, in addition, it also meant a reduction in subsidies.
For this reason, the CEAP and the CTPBA confirmed that “The lines of these jurisdictions will begin to reduce services to 50% starting at zero hours tomorrow (Tuesday, January 10)” and apologized to the public for any inconvenience that may arise, motivated by reasons totally beyond their control.”
In August 2022, a conflict was also generated due to the non-payment of subsidies and the cameras carried out the same protest, but on that occasion the situation escalated and there were even some nighttime stoppages and a reduction in daytime services.
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