Metro cards became scarce in Yerevan
It is already six months I have been trying to get a metro card but every time I receive the same answer: all cards have been sold out.
I tried to find out whether I was the only passenger to encounter this problem.
"I lost my card a month ago and since then I have been unsuccessfully attempting to obtain a new card. I have been told at "Marshal Baghramyan" station that new cards are not put up for sale," said Irina Khosrovyan.
"I bought my card about two years ago. There were so many cards that the cashiers made passengers buy them against their will. Today metro cards are in great demand. In September I wanted to get one for my daughter but there wasn't any available," said Gayane Yeghiazaryan.
Talking to A1+, Director General of the Yerevan Metro after Karen Demirchian Paylak Yayloyan refuted reports about the scarcity of cards. Yayloyan contacted his assistant who said that cards are available at all stations of the metro.
The assistant was surprised to learn that I had been refused a card at "Barekamutyun" station, saying there were at least 7-8 cards at the given station.
Paylak Yayloyan considered the discomfort to be resulted by the irresponsibile and careless work of the metro staff.
A new automatic system of payment was introduced in Yerevan Metro in March, 2009. The new system enables passengers to use both the token and card systems. Cards can be recharged at any booking office of the metro.
According to the Yerevan Metro Director, 50 000 cards were brought to Yerevan in 2009, 49 000 of which were given to citizens.
"When the cards finish, we shall receive new ones," said Yayloyan.
Before going to the interview, I was told in one of the metro stations that they had no cards on sale. I immediately contacted Ninel Vardanyan, a spokesperson for the Yerevan Metro after Karen Demirchian.
"Tell them that you were sent by Mr. Chakhoyan," said Vardanyan.
On hearing the name, the cashiers became anxious and hurried to get me a card.
When asked why they did not sell cards the previous day, one of them said, "We have just received them."
