Opposition senators have denounced the Ministry of Transport's failure to act after discovering that the fare freeze plan has not been implemented in the country's regions. Following a meeting with Minister Louis de Grange, lawmakers demanded effective measures to curb rising ticket prices outside the Metropolitan Region.
Legislators pointed out that rising fuel costs are being passed directly onto rural transport users. According to the senators, regional transport authorities have failed to implement the program promised following the spike in oil prices.
Regional inequality
Senator Beatriz Sánchez, speaking from the Maule Region, warned that the situation on the ground is critical. “Today, the bus fare is frozen only for Greater Santiago (…) in Maule, rural fares have risen by between 30 and 40%. With prices rising like this, no one's budget can withstand it,” she stated.
In the same vein, Senator Yasna Provoste demanded guarantees that the freeze will also reach rural sectors, where the economic impact is more severe. Lawmakers agreed that the Executive's solutions cannot focus solely on the capital.
Senator Alejandra Sepúlveda criticized the lack of equity in the government's measures. “Residents of rural areas cannot be treated as second-class citizens,” the legislator emphasized.
Meanwhile, Senator Karol Cariola warned of the operational risks facing the system. She cautioned that rising operating costs are threatening the continuity of various transport routes.
Following the meeting, the Ministry of Transport committed to instructing regional authorities and forming working groups with rural transport unions. The goal is to assess the current gaps and evaluate new support measures. The opposition has vowed to maintain strict oversight to ensure these commitments are met.
