Events

Lukashenko demands comfortable and safe alternative to minibuses

MINSK, 14 November (BelTA) – It is necessary to resolve the issue of minibus queues during peak hours. This can be done by deploying additional vehicles, including electric ones, to the busiest routes, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting to discuss the performance of the BelNPP, electricity consumption, and proposals for the construction of new nuclear energy capacity, BelTA has learned.

The president noted that electric transport is developing across Belarus, not only in big cities. “Pilot projects to convert public transport to electric have been implemented in Shklov, Zhodino, and Novopolotsk. Overall, more than 44,000 electric vehicles are currently in use in the country, and there are over 1,870 charging stations,” he cited.

In this context, the president expressed surprise at the shortage of public transport on suburban and intercity routes – an issue he stated is being raised by the public, including on social media. “People are disgruntled: they’re standing, especially during rush hour, in lines of 150 meters, as they say, just to squeeze into these stinky minibuses,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Listen, why are you treating people like that?!” 

“Can’t we replace these minibuses, Aleksandr Genrikhovich, with buses?” the president remarked, addressing Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin. “We need to supply electric buses, not just internal combustion engine buses. And let them go [on the routes]. People will be happy to ride. They’ll be comfortable, they can breathe on these buses, they won’t have to sit there all huddled up [like in minibuses].” He added that this would also be a safer mode of transport: “Well, we’ll lose 2-3 minutes, but we’ll be alive and well.”

“Aleksandr Genrikhovich, do you need my instructions again? We need to see how people live. We can easily do this, and it’s a cost-effective project,” the president emphasized.

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