Public transport in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri has come to a virtual standstill of late and local commuters are in a rage.

People have been waiting from 15 to 45 minutes to catch the next minivan heading in their direction. The Gyumri municipality says that the normal wait is from seven to ten minutes.

One van driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said the cause of the delays was due to spot checks being carried out by inspectors from the tax authority.

Responding to an irate commuter, the young driver quipped, “What can we do? You waited 45 minutes. The tax guys are conducting a raid. They’re afraid to drive. There are four vans on the road today. Be happy for that.”

The minivan driver added that the inspectors are devising any number of reasons to fine him and his colleagues 25,000 AMD. As a result, many drivers haven’t shown up for work.

The driver I talked to even claimed that the inspectors had been sent from Yerevan specifically to issue fines.

This reporter finally got to speak to Aram Yeghoyan, acting head of the Gyumri Division of Transportation, after a two day attempt.

Yeghoyan wasn’t at all pleased with the questions I posed.

“Transportation in our city is working normally for all normal people. As for those who are inclined to make a mountain from a mole hill, what can I say?” said Yeghoyan.

He said that transportation routes won by tender bids are operating without problem.

Yeghoyan confessed that he heard about the inspection checks through the media but that he hasn’t looked into the matter because it’s not his job to do so.

 Yeghoyan said that as far as he knew mostly cargo carriers were being stopped for inspection and that his office hadn't received any complaints from van drivers.

Photo: Aram Yeghoyan