Boudjemaa Talai: “No hike in transport prices”

The Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr. Boudjemaa Talai said Tuesday in Algiers that the hike in urban and semi urban transport tariffs decided recently by private transport companies was illegal and that punitive measures would be taken against these illicit practices.

Questioned by the press on the sidelines of a plenary session of the National People’s Assembly (NPA), the minister said that the government had not decided for the time being to bring urban transport tariffs upward.

As a reminder, private urban transporters have on their own increased tariffs of transport tickets by 10 dinars over the last few days justifying this decision by rising fuel prices.

Mr. Talai further indicated that his ministerial department was planning to hold joint meetings with trade unions and other industry stakeholders in the near future to address the ins and outs of this vexed issue, stressing that in the event of an increase in transport prices, the decision will be made in a studied and organized manner.

To this effect, the transport Minister sternly warned that strict measures would be taken by his services against those private urban transporters who have raised prices illegally.