The long-awaited launch of new tram lines (T3 and T4), planned for next June, is raising concerns among citizens. Accompanied by an increase in ticket prices to compensate for the budget deficit, the commissioning of these lines is at the heart of discussions among Casablanca residents, however, this increase will not exceed 1 dh, according to officials.
Increasing ticket prices to remedy the budget deficit is the solution that the municipality of Casablanca has decided to implement from the launch of the two new lines (T3&T4) next June.
With an annual deficit exceeding 100 million dirhams, the first and second tram lines require special attention to ensure their long-term financial viability.
To achieve this, the municipality makes a contribution which varies between 30% and 40% of the ticket price currently set at 6 dirhams. In addition, an annual subsidy of 200 million dirhams is granted to public transport so as not to affect the purchasing power of citizens.
During a recent conference, Nabila Rmili, mayor of the metropolis, revealed that “ adjustments will be made to the tram ticket price to counter the budget deficit caused by the new tram and bus lines “. She emphasized, in this sense, that “ the municipality cannot alone bear the operating costs of the six lines, particularly with the first and second sections recording an annual deficit exceeding 100 million dirhams“.
To remedy this, the municipal council plans to increase the price of tram tickets, given the municipality’s costly contribution to public transport, an unsustainable burden given the accumulated debt. This increase is seen as the only solution to resolve the deficit, despite the efforts of the Ministry of the Interior to avoid increasing the burden on citizens, already suffering due to inflation.
Currently set at 6 dirhams, the ticket price benefits from a municipal contribution of 30 to 40%. However, some activists reject this increase, arguing that it would harm citizens’ interests.
It is pertinent to point out that Rmili had previously noted that the actual cost of the tram ticket is 10 dirhams, while passengers currently pay only 6 dirhams, with the difference covered by the city, a similar practice for busway lines .
