The private bus carriers in Skopje are once again transporting passengers on a reduced schedule - they say that the reason is the financial problems they have due to the irregular payment from JSP "Skopje", i.e. from the City of Skopje for the service they provide.

Since the beginning of this week, the private carriers serving lines 23 and 45 have been driving with a reduced number of vehicles, and these days users have noticed a reduced number of buses on other lines throughout Skopje.

"Not through our fault, but because we didn't have enough funds, the buses of some bus lines ran reduced. The reason for that is the bad financial situation we are in. I hope that this problem will be solved soon, because these days we received part of the funds that were supposed to be paid to us from JSP "Skopje" with the support of the City of Skopje, says Lenin Jovanovski from the association of private carriers "Sloboda Vravoz".

Among other things, Jovanovski informs that the carriers had a meeting with the authorities at which it was agreed that part of the funds owed to them for the services they provide will be paid again by Friday, so that the carriers will have the opportunity to continue regularly perform their duties and transport passengers regularly, according to the predetermined timetable.

According to the head of "Sloboda Verosov", they hope that, as agreed, they will receive part of the money by Friday, and then that they will receive compensation regularly according to the agreement they have concluded with the authorities. Thus, as Jovanovski says, they will be able to transport passengers without interruption.

"In an attempt to meet the passengers, in cooperation with JSP "Skopje" we arranged for their buses to drive on route number 23 and thus passengers can be transported regularly and on time," he informed.

If by Friday the promise is not fulfilled and the funds that are currently owed to JSP and the City of Skopje are not paid, the private carriers announce that some of their buses will not be able to transport passengers, due to what they say is financial weakness and the inability to refuel the buses.

"In any case, the passengers will be promptly informed about our every decision," adds Jovanovski.

Otherwise, this is not the first time that private bus carriers do not transport passengers according to the established timetable, and they have been complaining for a long time that they do not receive money from the City on time for the service they provide.

JSP confirms that four of their buses are operating on the indicated lines, stressing that it is important for them that there is no interruption in the operation of the lines.

"At the moment, there is an open debt of 37 million denars towards "Sloboda Vraves" which is being serviced according to the established dynamics, while with "Makeexpress" we will know after the audit, considering that the carrier has not delivered the service in full according to the concluded contract for months. for performing public transportation. The public transport company has an adequate number of vehicles to serve all lines of the city's public transport", say JSP "Skopje".