Minibus Crisis Ended! Judicial Decisions are Implemented in Torbalı

In Torbalı, some members of the minibus cooperative, whose working license was canceled by a court decision, blocked the front of the ESHOT Garage in the district in the morning, preventing the buses from going to service. Thousands of citizens who could not get public transportation service due to the protest that lasted for about four hours became victims. In the statement made by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, it was emphasized that after the judicial decisions, it was necessary to provide public transportation services between the district center and its neighborhoods.

The public transportation crisis experienced in Torbalı on the morning of 5 August has victimized thousands of people who wanted to go to their jobs. Some members of the minibus cooperative, whose operating license was revoked by a court decision, blocked the front of the ESHOT Garage in the district in the morning, preventing the buses from going into service. The action, which lasted about four hours, ended with the persuasion efforts of Torbalı Mayor Mithat Tekin, security forces and ESHOT officials.

In the statement made by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality to inform the public, it was stated that the minibus cooperatives operating in the district center and its neighborhoods (villages) have had disagreements about routes and service plans for many years; continued as follows:

“The cooperative administrations in question took each other to court. With the decisions of the Izmir Administrative Courts, the transportation activities of the SS Torbalı Metropolis Urban Motor Transport Cooperative were cancelled. For this reason, it became necessary to provide public transportation services between Torbalı district center and its neighborhoods. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) decided to provide the service by the General Directorate of ESHOT. Service is ESHOT's DEU Vocational School No. 713-Torbalı, which uses different routes; DEU Vocational School No. 714-Torbalı Transfer Center and DEU Vocational School No. 715-Torbalı Transfer Center were started to be delivered.

In addition, UKOME regarding the determination of the routes of the commercial limited minibuses operating between Torbalı-İzmir Bus Station and the motor transport cooperatives No. decisions were annulled by the Izmir Administrative Courts. Thereupon, UKOME decided that the cooperatives in question would work on their old routes.

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality fulfills its responsibility to provide public transportation services as a result of judicial decisions. We respectfully announce it to the public.”