City gov't studies special subway fare for low-income commuters

The head of Buenos Aires Subways (SBASE), Juan Pablo Piccardo revealed today that the City government is studying to subsidy those commuters not able to afford the new fare of 3.50 pesos that’s announced for March 15.

However, Piccardo defended the 40% hike as he considered the new fare as “more than reasonable”, during an interview with Radio Del Plata.

“We are considering new options for those who cannot afford it. Anyway the new tariff is reasonable and most commuters can pay it.”

Meanwhile, opposition legislators summoned a special session for today at 3pm to debate a bill to stop the "extremely high tariffs" in the subway, until there is a new dealership contract.

Likewise, Piccardo compared the hike to the bus tariffs applied by the national Government, and assured that even with the new tariff, the "city will subsidize 45 percent of it."

The official justified the increase referring to the inflation, as he blasted "the train subsidies policy of the last 10 years," and reminded that the Line C "has a signal system from 1940."