Niš has decided to shock everyone – starting June 11, public transport is FREE for all! Yes, you read that right, all residents of Niš, as well as visitors from other cities and countries, can ride buses without pulling a dime out of their pockets. The decision was made at the city assembly’s last session, and Mayor Dragoslav Pavlović doesn’t hide that this is a huge financial bite. Public transport in Niš costs about 2.5 billion dinars annually. Until now, the city budget covered 1.25 billion, and the rest came from ticket sales. Now, the city will still allocate 1.25 billion, but the other 1.25 billion will come from the state budget. Sounds like a sweet deal for passengers, but what about ticket inspectors? Pavlović says there won’t be any because they won’t be needed. Someone will monitor bus conditions and passenger numbers, but ticket control is a thing of the past. Is this the beginning of the end of order in public transport or a revolution that will change everything? Imagine – no more stress about tickets, no waiting in line, just hop on the bus and ride. But who’s paying for this circus? The city and the state, meaning all of us, through taxes. While some cheer, others buzz about possible chaos and abuse. Will free transport in Niš be a model for other cities or just a short-lived experiment? What do you think – passenger paradise or financial disaster? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s for and who’s against this city revolution!
