Covid Protocol Costs Tehran Public Transport $4m Monthly

Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Iran in February 2020, Tehran’s public transportation system has incurred an additional monthly expense of over 1 trillion rials ($3.97 million) per month for observing the health protocols. 
Mohammad Alikhani, the head of Tehran City Council’s Transportation Commission, said Covid-19 restrictions have taken a toll on the capital’s transportation, taking the sector to the brink of collapse, TCC’s public relations office reported.
“Since the US sanctions against Iran were reimposed in 2018, Tehran Metro and Tehran Bus Company have been loss making. However, the spread of the novel coronavirus dealt another blow to the sector, reducing the number of people using public transportation by 40%,” he added.
The official noted that negotiations are underway to increase public transportation fare by up to 35% in the next Iranian year (starting March 20). 
“The actual price of a metro ticket is 198,000 rials [$0.8], two-thirds of which should be paid by the government and Tehran Municipality, and the rest by the passenger,” he noted.
Accordingly, the passenger should pay 59,400 rials ($0.23) for each metro ticket.