Lukashenko demands comfortable and safe alternative to minibuses
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has instructed to resolve the issue of queues for minibuses during peak hours, including by attracting additional units of transport, including electric transport, to popular routes. The head of state announced this at a meeting on the results of the Belarusian NPP operation, increased electricity consumption and proposals for the construction of new nuclear capacities, a BELTA correspondent reports.
The President noted that electric transport is developing in Belarus, and not only in large cities. "Pilot projects for the conversion of public transport to electric power have been implemented in Shklov, Zhodino, and Novopolotsk. In general, today more than 44,000 electric vehicles are operated in the country and there are over 1,870 charging stations," the head of state cited the data.
In this regard, it is surprising why there is a shortage of public transport in suburban and intercity communication, the President remarked. This issue, according to him, is raised by people, including on social networks. "People are offended: they stand, especially during peak hours, in queues of 150 meters, as they write, to squeeze into this stinking minibus," Alexander Lukashenko said. "Listen, why are you mocking people?!" "Can't we replace these minibuses with buses, Alexander Gennadievich?" the President remarked, addressing Prime Minister Alexander Turchin. "We need to introduce not only buses with internal combustion engines, but also electric buses. And let them run. People will gladly travel. It's comfortable, they breathe fresh air in this bus, they don't sit there (like in minibuses. - BELTA note) cramped." According to the President, this would also be a safer mode of transport: "Well, we'll lose 2-3 minutes, but we'll be alive and healthy."