MORE than 170 bus drivers packed Makarios stadium with their vehicles in Nicosia yesterday to protest against the start of an upgraded, cut-price, islandwide bus system due to start operating tomorrow.
Bus drivers from all over the island took part in the protest with plans to block the roads in front of the Presidential Palace, Parliament and the Communications Ministry either today or tomorrow.
The demonstration comes after the Communication Ministry announced on Friday the new service would start as planned tomorrow, despite Parliament voting on Thursday to approve the bill for the new service, but postponing its launch until September 15. Deputies argued more time was needed to settle compensation disputes with those drivers choosing not to join the venture, known as OSEL.
The protesting bus drivers were backed by the Nicosia Bus Company, which offered about 40 of their 128 buses for the demonstration.
“The demonstration took place because there are still 300 to 400 people that have remained out of the companies and they are asking for negotiations to continue, so that they can be enrolled into the companies or get a better compensation,” said President of the Nicosia Bus Company Stefos Kalogirou.
Police said they are in full communication with the drivers, who have said that they may take to the streets with their buses tomorrow.
Permanent Secretary of the Communications Ministry Makis Constantinides insisted yesterday that the system will start operating tomorrow despite the protest and Parliament’s opposition.
“The amended law proposed by the Parliament is not valid yet because it has not been signed by President Christofias,” he said. “Therefore, the law that stands at this moment is that which allows the new system to start on July 5.”
Asked whether President Demetris Christofias will sign the amended bill, Constantinides said: “most probably he will not.”
Communications and Works Minister Erato Kozakou-Markoulli backed this likelihood on Friday.
“I believe the president has no choice,” she said when asked on Friday if the President would refer the amended bill back to parliament.
The snag so far has been the refusal of most of the shareholders of the Nicosia Urban Buses Corporation to acquire a stake in OSEL because of concerns over the profitability of the project. The company fears the new system will not make enough money to generate dividends.
Current shareholders of OSEL, representing about 30 per cent of buses in the Nicosia district, have urged the Urban Buses Corporation to join them, but on condition that only about 50 (out of 130) of the latter’s vehicles enter the scheme.
As it stands now, a bus owner will receive €6,000 in compensation for their old bus. If they made a profit of €5,000 annually, they will receive €36,000. Bus owners who did not make a profit will get €6,000 for their old bus and €27,300 as compensation.
Under the scheme, the new buses will carry passengers around the island for as little as €10.
The plan includes an unlimited all-day ticket that can be used to travel within and between districts, while a single ticket within one district will be €1. An all day, unlimited trip ticket within one district will cost €2 and a weekly pass €10. Travelling between Larnaca and Nicosia will cost €3. It will cost €4 to travel between Nicosia and Limassol and €5 for a ticket from Paphos to the capital.
In Nicosia alone seven new bus routes will be added, making 20 routes altogether.
The frequency of buses will also increase, with a waiting time of 15 minutes during peak hours.
