TRNC Transport Sector Faces Imminent Collapse

The transport sector in the TRNC is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, according to Fuat Topaloğlu, President of the Public Transport Operators Association (KAR-İŞ). The union has issued a stark warning: all bus services may come to a complete halt if the situation persists.

“We can no longer sustain the transport sector. All our goodwill and efforts have been in vain. Operating costs in the sector have skyrocketed due to foreign currency fluctuations, and the minimum wage has tripled. This has made the burden on the sector unbearable,” Topaloğlu stated.

Lack of Price Adjustments and Government Action

Topaloğlu highlighted that no price adjustments have been made in the transport sector for the past 16 months. The Licensing Commission, responsible for overseeing sector regulations and operating under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has not convened because appointments to its board have not been finalized. Despite the rising costs of providing transportation services, fares have remained unchanged.

A Warning to the Government

The union has warned that unless the government intervenes, all transportation services across the country—including those vital to the tourism sector—will be suspended. The government has been given a one-week deadline to address the crisis and implement measures to stabilize the sector.

“The transport sector is a cornerstone of the country’s economic and social framework. The movement of goods and people ensures the seamless continuation of life, from production to consumption, from trade to tourism. Adjusting fares is our right. This crisis cannot go on,” declared the KAR-İŞ president.