Tramway and buses in Casablanca: the city pays the difference

Faced with growing urban and demographic pressure, the city mobilizes a substantial budget envelope, between 250 and 300 million dirhams per year, to contribute to the accounts of the companies operating the tramway, the busway and the buses.

According to Nabila Rmili, president of the council, this financial injection is considered a mandatory expense, framed by a circular from the Ministry of the Interior. It is essential to ensure the continuity of services and avoid any deficit that could lead to a deterioration of quality or a halt in service. Attendance data illustrates the scale of the challenge: with 150,000 daily passengers for the tramway alone and an annual total exceeding 270 million trips across the entire network (including a fleet of 700 modern buses), the pressure on infrastructure is constant.

A social commitment in the run-up to major events

The municipal authorities point out that the real price of the ticket is higher than the amount paid by the passengers. The municipality therefore intervenes to cover this differential, thus preserving the purchasing power of the inhabitants despite the rise in operating and maintenance costs. For Nabila Rmili, this is not just an accounting operation, but a "strategic choice" that places quality of life at the center of urban transformation.

This proactive policy is set to continue in the years to come, as the metropolis prepares to host major sporting events between 2025 and 2030, including the World Cup. The city hopes, however, to gradually achieve financial balance once the extensions of the tramway and busway networks are completed, which should, in the long run, reduce the burden of these subsidies.