Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) reduces student discounts to 10% for those aged over 30, following a decision in the IBB Council’s July session.
In the latest council session chaired by Deputy President Nuri Aslan at the municipal building in Sarachane, the Istanbulkart Regulation was amended to redefine student eligibility.
According to the joint report from the Legal and Planning & Budget Commissions, the definition now includes students enrolled under the National Defense University and verified through the Higher Education Council’s (YOK) system, as well as those under the Basic Education Law, Private Educational Institutions Law, Apprenticeship Training Law, and other laws with electronically verified records. Individuals who have completed high school but have not yet entered or been placed in a university through exams are considered students for up to one year. Students aged over 30 will receive a 10% discount on the Istanbulkart, Monthly Full Blue Card, and Full Transfer fees as determined by UKOME.
The proposal drew criticism from AK Party Legal Commission members, citing concerns over equality under the constitution and law, arguing that all students should have equal rights.
Meanwhile, CHP Group Spokesperson Gencay Ozcan highlighted a significant increase in the number of individuals over 30 using student discounted cards in Istanbul since 2019, expressing concerns about the decision’s impact on daily life.
Ozcan argued that IBB would incur losses unless preventive measures were taken, potentially leading to substantial fare increases.
AK Party Group Spokesperson Murat Turkyilmaz criticized the decision, stating, “According to IBB, learning has an age limit of 30. There’s no tangible basis for this. We’ve seen İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality engage in populist measures for five years, including hikes in public bread and student dormitory fees. As your General Secretary has stated, only a municipality that has exhausted its resources can act in this manner.”
Following discussions, the proposal was approved by majority vote.
Additionally, the council deliberated on a proposal to provide unemployed individuals applying to IBB’s Regional Employment Offices (BIO) with three months of free public transportation support for up to four trips per day to attend job interviews. The proposal received unanimous approval in the council session, paving the way for implementation under the supervision of the Lifelong Learning Branch Directorate, facilitated by BELBIM AS through BIO system infrastructure and web service integration.
Source: Dunya.com / Prepared by Irem Yildiz