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The Road Transport Directorate has revealed disproportionate expenses in the inspection of bus terminal expenses – in Latvia

The Road Transport Directorate has started to evaluate how 33 bus stations operating in Latvia handle money – it has been revealed that many publications are inadequate, reports TV3’s program “Nekā personīga”.

The evaluation revealed that several bus terminals have set disproportionately high salaries, repair estimates and other expenses. The owners of all bus and coach terminals present this as their own expenses when calculating the fare charged to passenger carriers. In turn, according to the program, they are forced to pay this “inflated” tariff and further demand a subsidy to the state.

Last year, carriers paid 4.5 million euros to bus terminals just for entering their territory, in the first half of this year – more than two million euros.

Vizma Bahareva, Head of the Legal Department of the Road Transport Directorate, reveals that at some bus stations, janitors receive as high salaries as lawyers before paying taxes. And those who change the route lists receive more than the President.

For example, the maximum fee for the use of the territory of SIA “Rēzeknes autoosta” is 12 euros. It is not so expensive to enter one bus in any of the three Baltic capitals, the program concluded. The bus station is located on private land.

“Nekā Personīga” has information that, for example, the rent for the premises, which “Rēzekne bus station” has indicated to the Ministry of Transport as its expenditure item, is 12 euros per square meter. Other expenditure items are currently being assessed by the Road Transport Directorate.

Four years ago, the Competition Council already imposed a fine of 4,026 euros on “Rēzekne bus station” for abuse of a dominant position by demanding excessive fees for entering the bus station. One and a half years ago, the council imposed another penalty on the bus station – 838 euros for failure to provide the required information to make sure that the shortcomings were remedied. The re-inspection is currently underway, and the Competition Council is not yet ready to comment on the findings.

The Road Transport Directorate considers that a new regulation is needed. Otherwise, bus spending cannot be influenced by anyone from the sidelines.

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