Bus Fare Caps Announced: 100 Kilometers Now 100 TL
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted authorities to prevent opportunistic fare increases by bus companies. A cap on bus ticket prices has been enacted. According to the latest announcement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has implemented a maximum fare schedule for companies providing domestic road passenger transport. This temporary cap is in effect until July 31, 2020.
The ceiling fares for intercity bus services will vary by distance. Under the new decision, maximum fares are set to range between 100 TL and 500 TL depending on the travelled distance. These measures were taken to account for the additional costs borne by bus operators during the pandemic while avoiding excessive price hikes for passengers.
Fare Cap for Bus Tickets Applies Until July 31
The revised fare schedule for road passenger transport, issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, has been published in the Official Gazette. The ministry established these ticket price limits in response to measures taken because of the Covid-19 pandemic, declared by the World Health Organization. The regulation, which reflects the additional operating costs incurred by passenger bus companies, will remain in force until July 31, 2020.
Under the decision, the base fare for a 100-kilometer trip is set at 100 TL. At the upper end, trips of 2001 kilometers and above have a maximum fare of 500 TL. Fares increase progressively with distance beyond the 100-kilometer minimum. In addition to the capped fares, routes that require crossing the Bosphorus will include any applicable crossing fees on top of the ticket price.