THE collectives of the City and Greater Buenos Aires are already circulating reduced frequencies for lack of subsidies. The companies assure that they don’t even have the money to pay this Tuesday Bond set at $140,000 to drivers of the Unión Tranviarios Automotor (UTA), who could explode a industrial conflict.
And meanwhile, the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputopaved the way for the Nation to withdraw as soon as possible from the “decision-making process” relating to automobile transport in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA), where it contributes with tariff compensations.
The deterioration in the quality of this public service adds chapters as inflation rates continue to record double-digit monthly figures. In silence, the companies that own the buses have been doing so since this week They began to put fewer units on the streets, as a way to protect themselves financially when faced with an economic equation that doesn’t work for them.
According to data from Argentine Association of Automobile Transport Entrepreneurs (AAETA)where the group weighs above all Metropolthe second largest behind DOTA, passengers pay an average of $200 per trip, and the country, city and county provide subsidies of an additional $400. But The “real” cost is $1,000.. The cost calculation was last updated in December with prices valid from September 2023, therefore cost increases have not been taken into account. dieselspare parts e equality.
To make up for the difference of $400 per trip, some companies have decided to reduce the number of kilometers traveled. In January was 8% lower compared to the previous year, with the particularity that being a month in which there are holidays, the frequencies are lower than the rest of the year.
The due date for paying the $140,000 non-salary bonus to drivers is this Tuesday. In the Chambers they say that not everyone has enough money to pay for it and they swear that they have the capacity to understand and want Roberto Fernandez, general secretary of the UTA, and its bases. But sources from the trade union sector intervened Clarion They are convinced that there is money for workers.
Transport, conflict at the door
Meanwhile, the national government wants to withdraw from this conflict soon and leave it in the hands of the head of government of the city of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macrìand the governor of the province Axel Kicillof. In Economics they clarify it This would not mean, for the time being, stopping contributing money for tariff compensation.
In an interview with the channel LN+, Caputo stated: “The Nation subsidizes interjurisdictional routes, such as those from CABA to GBA. And the province subsidizes its own routes. Inter-jurisdictional routes are a national responsibility and are subsidized by the Nation. There is a gray point which is the Citybecause it still has 31 lines that have not been relocated (as happened with the subway in 2012). It was established that only 45% would be subsidized by the nation. What we’re promoting is giving more entity to the Metropolitan Agency so that it takes on greater importance and is resolved between CABA and the Province, and the nation will be able to move away from the transport problem.”
The political situation is complemented by an interrupted dialogue between the Secretary of Transportation -which formally continues to belong to the Ministry of Infrastructure (without a minister) – and of the Economy, its “mother portfolio”.
According to Open Budget data, the Transport Infrastructure System Trust Fund (FFSIT)through which subsidies are channeled to groups, has required public spending up to now $112,139.19 million23.4% of the current budget credit (of which 13.4% of the year 2024 has passed), of which $54,922.22 million has been paid.
Inside the country the situation is no less problematic. Cordoba decided last week to raise fees to $700. Parana, the capital of Entre Ríos, entrepreneurs maintain a blockade of employers and circulate only from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.; They ask for compensation in excess of $1,000. It’s inside Curvy There has been a total stoppage of buses for two weeks.
Source: Clarin
