Alireza Zakani, the Mayor of Tehran, announced in a city council meeting that free public transportation services will continue during wartime. This decision was made to facilitate citizens' movement and reduce the psychological pressure caused by the wartime situation.
Implementation of Supportive Policies
Zakani explained this policy by saying: "Wartime conditions continue, and we cannot make part of our decisions according to the wartime situation, but in another part, we must have a different approach." He emphasized that the free metro and rapid bus services were implemented from March 9, 2025, and this decision was extended in the following months with the approvals of the Tehran City Council.
Costs of Free Transportation
One of the questions raised regarding free public transportation is the cost that this decision imposes on urban management. Zakani explained that in the bus sector, about 3.2% and in the metro about 13.9% of costs are covered by ticket sales. He added that the financial impacts of free tickets compared to their social and psychological effects are limited.
The urban management believes that free public transportation is more than just an economic measure; it is a message of attention to citizens. This message reflects the municipality's efforts to maintain and enhance equitable access for citizens to urban services in difficult conditions.
Development of Public Transportation Fleet
Zakani also emphasized in this meeting that the implementation of supportive policies does not mean halting the development of the public transportation fleet. He announced that during the sixth term of urban management, 2,460 buses have been renewed or entered service. In contrast, only 134 buses were added to the fleet in the four years prior to this period.
Alongside the fleet development, necessary negotiations are underway to remove barriers to the production and delivery of new buses by domestic manufacturers, and hundreds of additional buses are set to be added to Tehran's public transportation fleet. Zakani also announced the expansion of the metro network and stated that projects for the development of lines, stations, and the procurement of new wagons are continuing vigorously.
Import of New Wagons
Regarding the new wagons, Zakani mentioned that the contract for purchasing wagons from China is still active, and their entry into the country has been delayed due to wartime conditions. The head of the Tehran City Council's Construction Committee also reported that two sets of Chinese trains are ready to enter the country and announced that import barriers have been removed.
In the bus sector, the fleet renewal process continued in 2026, and the Deputy of Transportation and Traffic of Tehran Municipality announced the arrival of 95 new buses. The urban management is targeting the entry of 3,000 new buses to help renew Tehran's public transportation fleet.
