A tense situation emerged in the Sokal community over bus transportation to local villages after the company Auto-Line announced that it intended to suspend services starting March 28. The carrier said the decision was caused by the lack of compensation for transporting privileged passenger categories, as well as financial difficulties linked to ongoing route maintenance costs, taxes, and a sharp rise in fuel prices.
At the same time, the Sokal City Council stated that the issue had been addressed promptly. During a meeting between city officials and representatives of the carrier, the parties agreed on a mechanism to resolve the problem and avoid a prolonged suspension of transport links with the villages of the community.
Sokal Mayor Serhii Kasian said in a comment to Radio Sokal that the city council would begin compensating the cost of transporting eligible passenger categories starting next week. According to him, this step should help stabilize the operation of bus routes and ensure residents continue to have access to regular transportation.
Key points of the situation:
- Auto-Line announced plans to temporarily suspend routes to villages in the Sokal community from March 28;
- one of the main reasons cited was the lack of compensation for transporting privileged passengers;
- additional pressure came from route maintenance expenses, taxes, and rapidly increasing fuel costs;
- a meeting took place at the city council with representatives of the carrier;
- the parties reached an agreement on the future operation of the routes;
- compensation for transporting privileged passengers is expected to begin next week;
- the carrier promised to restore bus service from Tuesday, March 31.
As a result of the talks between the Sokal City Council and the carrier, a solution was found that should allow bus connections with the community’s villages to resume and help avoid transport disruptions for local residents.