Tehran, Iran, May 6
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Taxi fares rises by 25 per cent in the Iranian capital as of May 6.
Bus and metro fares, however, remained the same, Iran's IRNA News Agency reported on May 6.
Abolfazl Ghena'ati, a member of Tehran City Council, said on April 26 that the prices were supposed to rise as of April 21, but the government asked the City Council to wait until the implementation of the second phase of subsidy reform plan.
Ghena'ati said that a 25 percent increase in taxi fares was decided in the previous calendar year (which ended on March 20).
"The government needs to provide cheaper diesel oil and electricity to the public transportation sector," he said on April 23.
Iranian government increased the prices of gasoline and other energy carriers as part of implementing the second phase of subsidy reform plan.
National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) announced on April 24 that as of midnight (April 25) semi-subsidized gasoline would be presented at 7,000 rials, while the free market price would stand at 10,000 rials, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported.
Semi-subsidized gasoline was previously sold at 4,000 rials (33 cents), while the free market gasoline price was 7,000 rials.
Iranians with cars will receive a monthly allowance of 60 liters with the semi-subsidized price and have to pay the free market price for larger volumes.
Based on the new prices, semi-subsidized super gasoline and free market super gasoline will also be presented at 8,000, and 11,000 rials, respectively.
According to NIORDC, diesel oil will be sold at 2,500 rials, while CNG will be presented at the price of 4,500 rials per cubic meters.
According to the government, Iranians who still have some semi-subsidized gasoline quota in their card can use their stored allowance with the previous price (4,000 rials) until further notice.
Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said on April 23 that the quality of gasoline would be increased in the next [Iranian calendar] year (to start March 21, 2015).