RMB 1.8 Billion Subsidy Offered to Offset Bus/Metro Fares

Source: english.gz.gov.cn

New progress has been made for the public concerned bus & metro fare concessions program. It is learned on July 21st from an executive meeting of the Guangzhou municipal government, an annual RMB 600 million subsidy, from this year to 2010, would be provided to cover bus and metro fares.

At the meeting, the bus and metro bus fare concessions program and subsidies for the public transportation industry were discussed. In order to encourage the citizens to use public transport facilities and to implement the 66 favorable policies, a total of RMB 1.8 billion from this year until 2010 would be offered to offset bus and metro fares.

On January 9th this year, a meeting was held to collect opinions on a public transport fare concessions program. 30 representatives from various sectors discussed the two programs that were proposed by the municipal Transport Committee. Finally, three representatives agreed on the No. 1 program, which proposed a 20% discount off bus/metro fares; 19 representatives agreed on the No.2 program, which proposed "a 20% discount off bus/metro fares + a monthly fare card". According to related data, annual subsidies of RMB 546 million would be needed for the No. 1 program and RMB 732.9 million would be needed for the No.2 program.

A Price Control Administration official said that the program still needed the approval of the executive meeting. The final program would be released later by the municipal government.

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Editor: Chen Minjie