Intense debate in Almaty: subsidizing transport operators' losses.

One of the key changes is the clarification of the formula for determining route costs. The new version proposes to establish a cost coefficient in two components: basic and additional. The basic coefficient will be set at 10% (author's note – instead of the existing 20%) of the actual costs for servicing urban and suburban routes. Previously, subsidy calculations were based on the number of passengers transported, taking into account payments made through the Oңай system. However, half of the passengers do not pay for their rides, complicating accurate accounting. Therefore, in the new formula, calculations will be made for each kilometer of the route. There is also an additional surcharge for improving the parameters of rolling stock amounting to 5%, and an incentive surcharge of 2% of the calculated costs for rolling stock if electric-powered transport is used on the route.

Changes are also being made to the subsidy system regarding the age of the vehicles. Less than one year - 5 percent, whereas previously it was 10. For vehicles aged one to seven years, reimbursement remains at the previous level of 15 percent, but for those older than seven years, there will be no subsidies. This decision aims to encourage carriers to renew their fleet and reduce the use of outdated vehicles, according to representatives of the government authority. Additionally, the procedure for forming the monthly subsidy has been clarified. It will depend on the number of days on the route, the number of round trips per day, and the length of the route in the calculation year.

Alongside incentives for passenger carriers, there are also penalties for failing to meet mandatory conditions. The dispatch organization will evaluate the quality of route execution based on two criteria: mandatory stops at all route stops (except for stops on demand) and compliance with time frames at the starting and ending stops (no earlier than 5 minutes and no later than 30 minutes from the schedule). If either of the criteria is not met, the trip will not be counted among the subsidized ones.

Another change is that starting January 1, 2026, buses with diesel engines, and from January 1, 2027, vehicles with gas engines will no longer receive subsidies, except for servicing suburban and mountain routes. Additionally, no transitional period for implementing these norms is provided.

The General Director of the Union of Road Transport Workers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sabit Amanbaev, expressed concern regarding the new conditions. He believes that the government is creating hostile conditions for private companies, which may lead to their displacement from the passenger transport market.

Entrepreneurs argue that when developing changes to the rules for carriers, representatives of transport associations should have been involved. This would ensure that the innovations take into account the interests of all parties and are optimal for the normal functioning of private companies.

In other words, the discussion of the innovations sparked intense debate among the participants of the meeting.