Mohammad Akhoundi, Chairman of the Program and Budget Commission of the Islamic City Council of Tehran, in the council's public session, emphasized the need to reconsider the provision of free public transport services and called for the implementation of a targeted program to support needy groups. He pointed out the decisions made during a specific period (known as the conditions of the war of factions) and stressed the necessity of reforming the public transport subsidy process.
The Necessity of Reconsidering Subsidies
Akhoundi stated that the decision to provide free public transport services at the beginning of that period was a smart and immediate decision, saying: "After the specific conditions ended, we must pay attention to the fact that free services should not apply to all citizens. We need to carefully plan to cover groups that do not have sufficient financial capacity or specific groups that need special support."
Read more: Tehran Municipality Pays for Special Students' School Transport
Optimal Resource Management
The Chairman of the Program and Budget Commission of the Islamic City Council of Tehran also referred to misunderstandings that may arise from the interpretation of these decisions, stating: "Our main goal is to direct supportive policies towards groups that truly need assistance. Additionally, we must pay special attention to citizens who are more participatory in fulfilling their duties."
Akhoundi added: "In previous meetings, we reached a general agreement that this process needs to be reformed. Therefore, Tehran Municipality is expected to provide a clear and documented plan for implementing this targeted scheme so that we can maintain support for vulnerable groups while achieving optimal resource management in the public transport network."
Akhoundi's statements reflect the deep attention of urban officials to the real needs of citizens and the effort to improve the quality of public transport services. Given the current economic and social conditions, this action could lead to an improvement in the living conditions of the people and an increase in public satisfaction.
Read more: Pouran Nazemi: The "Women, Life, Freedom" Movement Created a Deep Transformation in Iran · Memorable Cinema Dialogues on Tehran's Billboards
