site.btaChildren Under 10 to Use Public Transport for Free Starting February 1 - Transport Minister 

From 1 February, all children up to the age of 10 will travel free on public transport and intercity transport, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Transport and Communications Hristo Alexiev said during a briefing at the Council of Ministers here on Wednesday.

The decision was taken at Wednesday's regular government meeting, he said. The measure will come into force at the beginning of February, will last until the end of the calendar year and will cover children under 10 years of age. 

"All students will travel at a 70% discount, previously they travelled at 20%." We have also increased the compensation for reduced travel for people of retirement age from 20% to 40%," Alexiev further explained. 

The measure's budget is BGN 73 million. They funds are mainly ensured by the excess profits collected from the Burgas oil refinery, he added. 

Alexiev also pointed out that the Council of Ministers has increased by an additional BGN 27 million the compensation for the so-called unprofitable lines of inter-city transport so that all passengers have access to the transport they need. 

He also commented on the elaboration of a new mechanism to compensate for high fuel prices after the abolition of the 0.25 cents per litre discount measure. "We are working on this measure. I suppose it will be announced in February. We are looking at finances and prioritising vulnerable groups. With the available financial resources we will work on the other measure of compensating fuel with vouchers," Hristo Alexiev explained. 

"Sofia Municipality has the right to its own policy regarding transport," commented Alexiev after a question from journalists related to the declared readiness for strike action of drivers from the capital's public transport.