Microbuses raised their fares from MNT 700 to MNT 1,000 last Saturday due to rising fuel prices. Many passengers protested the increase but have no choice but to pay it, since they live far from the routes of large buses.

The head of the Ulaanbaatar Public Transportation Office’s Dispatchers Department, G.Dorjpalam, told our correspondent that the microbuses have violated the law by raising fares without the office’s permission. He said the office has the authority to shut down microbuses that break the law.

Office officials said that large buses will not increase their fares, and that there have been no talks between private bus companies and the office. But they added that, if fuel prices continue to rise, the fares could eventually go up.a