The Fidesz-Christian Democrat Budapest city council caucus leader István Tarlós yesterday urged mayor Gábor Demszky to withdraw the BKV plan to axe bus services and reduce metro, tram and suburban railway services. Tarlós said the plan is “a perfect example of dilettantism, inhumanity and stupidity.”
Demszky responded that it is necessary to terminate certain services due to the ever increasing number of residents leaving Budapest. Magyar Hírlap comments that Demszky usually draws attention to the rise in the number of those returning to Budapest, for whom public transport is a key issue. The plan could enter into force in September if it is approved by the Budapest city council in April.
Tarlós told Népszava on Wednesday that if BKV carries out the measures as planned, public transport standards would fall to 1940s levels. BKV should consider terminating its Ft 3 billion consultancy contracts, rather than cutting its services, he added.
