Marrakech Bus Fare Hike Sparks Outrage as Alsa Raises Prices on Key Routes

Since Wednesday, the fare on the line connecting Marrakech to Benguerir has gone from 18 dirhams to 20 dirhams, say activists on social networks. According to many witnesses, the urban transport company Alsa aims, through this fare increase, to offset its losses and make more profits at the expense of passenger comfort. But this increase is hard to swallow for human rights actors in Marrakech.

In a statement to the Al3omk site, the regional coordinator of the Moroccan Human Rights Forum in the Marrakech-Safi region said that the company in charge of urban transport management has seen its contract with the local authorities in the region expire, but that a one-year extension has been granted to it. According to the authorities, this extension is explained by the fact that the new model of delegated management contracts for the public transport service in Morocco has not yet been implemented by the competent services of the Ministry of the Interior.

Alsa "has no right to raise fares, as it is only operating under an extension." He also points out that Alsa’s bus fleet is dilapidated. "Moreover, its bus fleet is dilapidated, and this does not legally give it the right to raise fares," he added.