On April 2, Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov rejected the proposal to hike public transport ticket prices, zagrada.bg reported.

“The public transport ticket price will not grow as of May 1, as it was proposed. We will increase it only after we increase the service quality,“ Borissov said.

Sofia deputy mayor in charge of transport Velizar Stoilov proposed raising ticket prices on May 1 to one lev, from the current 0.70 leva, with monthly and weekly passes becoming more expensive as well. A similar increase would be carried out for the cheaper monthly passes also for students, people from social homes and handicapped.

However, during a discussions in the municipal budget commission on April 2, one of the municipal councillors from Borissov's own GERB party voted against the idea, preventing the proposal from going through.

“During the coming few months the public transport will be re-structured, an investment programme will be developed and new busses will be bought. It is not logical to increase the ticket price, as currently the services are not good enough,” Borissov said.