Free public transport in Kharkiv creates risks for the financial state of communal enterprises, believes transport expert Oleksandr Hrechko. According to him, the lack of fare affects payments for electricity, repairs, and worker salaries. He explained this in a comment to TSN.
Free transport in Kharkiv: what consequences does the expert foresee
Hrechko described the zero fare as a political decision that does not eliminate the real cost of transport. Transport enterprises still need to buy electricity, fuel, and spare parts, maintain rolling stock, and pay salaries.
According to the expert, communal enterprises in Kharkiv have accumulated multi-billion debts for consumed energy resources. He believes that such indebtedness creates a burden not only on the city but also on state energy companies.
«When an enterprise does not receive cash, it immediately causes savings, which affect spare parts, service quality, and salaries of employees», — noted Hrechko.
At the same time, the published data on Kharkiv's debts cover not only transport. It includes debts of heating energy, water supply enterprises, other communal institutions, and the population. Therefore, it is incorrect to directly link the entire amount to free travel.
Can they bring back fare in Kharkiv
Hrechko proposes to introduce a small base fare. In his opinion, the fare should be affordable for passengers but provide transport enterprises with stable revenue for current expenses.
Kharkiv city authorities hold the opposite position. Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that free travel is financed from the city budget and is a social support for residents of a frontline city. According to him, the program will continue as long as the budget has the capacity for it.
The budget of Kharkiv for 2026 includes funding for free travel. The city council also denies that the zero fare worsens the quality of transport, referring to the renewal of the bus fleet, the rental of trolleybuses, and the receipt of trams from international partners.
Thus, the assertion that free transport caused all of Kharkiv's communal debts remains the expert's assessment. The city authorities have not reported any plans to return paid travel.
It should be noted that in Kharkiv, they do not exclude that free travel in public transport may remain after the end of the war.